Theoldman\'seyessweptthehorizon，thenheturnedtogoin，withoutmakinganotherobservation。Alllightseemedextinguishedinhimagain。WhenEdwardwentinhefoundhisfatherwiththebureauopen，unfoldingtheleaseswithashakinghand，foldingthemupagainwithoutreadingthem，thenputtingthemintheirnicheonlytoremovethemagain。
Adelaidewasintheroom。ShesaidthoughtfullytoEdward，asshewatchedthefarmer——
\'Ihopeitwon\'tkillpooruncle，Edward。Whatshouldwedoifanythingweretohappentohim？HeistheonlynearrelativeyouandIhaveintheworld。\'Itwasperfectlytrue，andsomehowEdwardfeltmoreboundupwithherafterthatremark。
Shecontinued：\'Andhewasonlysayingsohopefullythedaybeforethefire，thathewouldn\'tfortheworldletanyoneelsegivemeawaytoyouwhenwearemarried。\'
ForthefirsttimeaconscientiousdoubtaroseinEdward\'smindastothejusticeofthecoursehewaspursuinginresolvingtorefusethealternativeofferedbyMissAldclyffe。Coulditbeselfishnessaswellasindependence？Howmuchhehadthoughtofhisownheart，howlittlehehadthoughtofhisfather\'speaceofmind！