"She never intended to drive the children to such an act—they were so young that they did not understand. I think I hear them at the door. Yes, here they all come, my poor Lily looking so happy! The cousins at the Ferry Farm will be jealous."
After this, it was an understood thing that Fred was to live with the Wentworths until he had completed his medical studies. His father and mother were obliged to return to Canada, and the time they had fixed on drew near.
"Fred," said Janet to her husband, "I want you to leave Edgestone one day before we need go to Liverpool, for—I want to go to Hemsborough."
"Why, Janet?"
"I want to see Mrs. Rayburn. She has not answered my letter, but I am sure she is very unhappy—though, indeed, I tried to be gentle with her. Do you remember, in that first letter—the one that told us that she had seen our boy—she seemed to long sore to be forgiven?"
"Janet—how can we forgive her? You ask too much—I'm only a man."
"Have we no need of forgiveness? And remember 'forgive us, as we forgive.' Oh, dear Fred, you would not make that prayer mean 'do not forgive, for I will not'?"
There was no resisting that argument. In a few days, farewell was said to the Wentworths, and also to the little grave, where now a marble cross bore Francis Rayburn's true and full name, and after the date and notice of his age, the words "Love is strong as death." Fred went with them, intending to see them off, and then go to London to continue his studies.
They went to Hemsborough, and walked from the railway station to the Thompsons' house. They knocked and inquired if Mrs. Rayburn were at home. The servant said—
"Mrs. Rayburn is not at all well. She keeps her room, and sees nobody, ma'am."