There was no steamboat to Mount Ascension Island until the next day.
So the party for that bourne were compelled to spend the night at Richmond.
Alden, although he might have gone on to Charlottesville that night, determined to remain with his friends.
The whole party went to the Henrico House, where they were accommodated with adjoining rooms.
The next morning they resumed their journey, separating to go their several ways. Alden saw the two young ladies safely on the steamboat that was to take them to Mount Ascension, and then bade them good-bye, leaving them in charge of the Rev. Dr. Jones, who was to escort them to the end of their journey.
He had barely time to secure his seat for Charlottesville, where he arrived on the afternoon of the same day.
The letter he had to deliver to Mary Grey "burned in his pocket." He could not have done otherwise than promise to deliver it in person, when fair Emma Cavendish had requested him to do so. And now, of course, he must keep his word and go and carry the letter to her, although he would rather have walked into a fire than into that false siren's presence.
It is true that his love for her was dead and gone. But it had died such a cruel and violent death that the very memory of it was full of pain and horror, and to meet her would be like meeting the specter of his murdered love. Nevertheless he must not shrink from his duty; he must go and do it.
Before reporting at his college, he went to a hotel and changed his clothes, and then started out to find Mary Grey's residence. That was not so easily done. She had omitted to leave her address with her friends at Blue Cliffs, and Emma's letter was simply directed to Mrs. Mary Grey, Charlottesville.
True, Charlottesville was not a very large place; but looking for a lady there was something like looking for the fabulous needle in the haystack.