CHAPTER XIX. THE LETTER

nagetoinstruct.Yourfather’srelationsandoldfriendswillbeabletosendussomepupils,ortoassistuswiththeirrecommendations,nodoubt:Ishallnotapplytomyown.Whatsayyoutoit,Agnes?willyoubewillingtoleaveyourpresentsituationandtry?” “Quitewilling,mammaandthemoneyIhavesavedwilldotofurnishthehouse.Itshallbetakenfromthebankdirectly.” “Whenitiswanted:wemustgetthehouse,andsettleonpreliminariesfirst.” Maryofferedtolendthelittleshepossessedbutmymotherdeclinedit,sayingthatwemustbeginonaneconomicalplanandshehopedthatthewholeorpartofmine,addedtowhatwecouldgetbythesaleofthefurniture,andwhatlittleourdearpapahadcontrivedtolayasideforhersincethedebtswerepaid,wouldbesufficienttolastustillChristmaswhen,itwashoped,somethingwouldaccruefromourunitedlabours.Itwasfinallysettledthatthisshouldbeourplanandthatinquiriesandpreparationsshouldimmediatelybesetonfootandwhilemymotherbusiedherselfwiththese,IshouldreturntoHortonLodgeatthecloseofmyfourweeks’vacation,andgivenoticeformyfinaldeparturewhenthingswereintrainforthespeedycommencementofourschool. WewerediscussingtheseaffairsonthemorningIhavementioned,aboutafortnightaftermyfather’sdeath,whenaletterwasbroughtinformymother,onbeholdingwhichthecolourmountedtoherface—latelypaleenoughwithanxiouswatchingsandexcessivesorrow.“Frommyfather!”murmuredshe,asshehastilytoreoffthecover.Itwasmanyyearssinceshehadheardfromanyofherownrelationsbefore.Naturallywonderingwhatthelettermightcontain,Iwatchedhercountenancewhileshereadit,andwassomewhatsurprisedtoseeherbiteherlipandknitherbrowsasifinanger.Whenshehaddone,shesomewhatirreverentlycastitonthetable,sayingwithascornfulsmile,— “Yourgrandpapahasbeensokindastowritetome.HesayshehasnodoubtIhavelongrepentedofmy‘unfortunatemarriage,’andifIwillonlyacknowledgethis,andconfessIwaswronginne