“I am glad to hear,” said Aunt Ella, “that they are bound by love as well as by law.”
In about a month there came a long letter from Maude.
“DEAR AUNT ELLA AND SISTER ALICE:—I have so much to tell you that I hardly know where to begin. We had a fine trip—no storms—and none of us missed a meal, which was bad for the company. But they made up their loss on others who ate a supper on leaving England and a breakfast on reaching America.
“Mother was delighted to see us and father was so nice to us all that I came near fainting. He is a changed man. I wonder what drug he has been taking.”
* * * * * * *
“Didn't you tell Maude about your letter to her mother?” asked Alice.
“No, I told Florence, but thought Maude would appreciate the change now, if it took place, if she was ignorant of what influence had been brought to bear on her father.”
Aunt Ella continued the reading.
* * * * * * *
“Harry and I have been to Fernborough. Alice's brother sent us word that Uncle Isaac Pettingill was dead and we went to the funeral. He had no complaint. He was tired out, so Mrs. Maxwell told us, and went to sleep. He left each of Mrs. Maxwell's boys five thousand dollars, and the same amount to Quincy Adams Pettingill. The remainder of his fortune, I don't know how much, is bequeathed to build a free hospital in Fernborough.