“Yes, and he will marry very early, if he can find a wife to suit him. He will settle very soon to serious, practical life. He is just the young man to do it. Alice, when he returns I hope you will not permit him quite to forget old friends. Stay—our Elsie is—twelve years of age?”
“Not quite.”
“Well, nearly twelve—then thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen—four years. Four years will quickly pass away; and our young gentleman can wait that long. At the end of four years I shall bring Elsie home from school. She will then be sixteen years of age. You were but a year older when you were married, Alice. Say, answer me—you were but seventeen when you were married, were you not?”
“I was but seventeen,” replied Alice.
And here the conference ended.
General Garnet found Mr. Hardcastle in the extremity of grief. He had only received the dire intelligence of the loss of his only and well-beloved son, in a letter of condolence from the captain of the ship. He had nothing new, therefore, to learn from General Garnet, but thanked him for his visit and his sympathy. General Garnet remained with him all day and until a late hour of the night, when he took his leave.
Days, weeks elapsed, before Mr. Hardcastle found courage to summon Magnus to Hemlock Hollow, though in the meantime Magnus had written often, expressing his heartfelt sorrow and his earnest sympathy, and entreating permission to come home and see his uncle. At last Mr. Hardcastle wrote and recalled him. Magnus came and remained over Christmas. Then, his uncle being restored to his usual state of composure and cheerfulness, and being engaged in his customary occupations of agriculture and politics, hunting, fishing, and company, Magnus begged leave to return to his studies. His uncle opposed the proposition. What was the use of his studying a profession now? Could he not be contented to stay at home and keep a childless old man company?
But Magnus wished to be busy again.
“Well, could he not be busy enough overseeing the overseer, and keeping the plantation in order?” queried the old man testily.
But Magnus was very much in earnest, and persisted in his purpose. Finally, the old man angrily threatened to disown him, and let him go. And Magnus, preferring his profession to any inheritance, departed.