“Your sincere friend,
“E. Wilson.”
“Good Heaven! There, what did I tell you, Elsie!” exclaimed Alice, clasping her hands.
“My dear mother! my darling mother! never mind. There is one love on earth that shall never fail you. I can have no second mother,” said Elsie, rising and throwing her arms around the lady’s neck.
“Magnus, you see that I must go. I must write to-night, to prepare him for my arrival, and to-morrow I must set out myself.”
“Oh, no, mother; don’t go! It will be worse than ever now in your old home. Oh, mamma, don’t go! Write—only write. Or if it be indispensable that someone go, Magnus will. Will you not, Magnus?”
“I will do whatever your mother wishes.”
“Then, dearest Magnus, mail my letter to-night, even late as it is, and prepare to set out with me to-morrow. Yet, no: you must not leave Elsie. Prepare me a way to go alone.”
“Dear Mrs. Garnet, dear friend, I implore you not to think of going. I will go myself.”
“Magnus, dear, you know that upon some points I can be stubborn. I must go straight to Mount Calm,” said Alice.