She took the time immediately after breakfast the next morning to break the news to him.
“Going! Going back to America!” he exclaimed, in astonishment.
“Yes. It is our bounden duty. The war is not the temporary disturbance that you thought it was to be. It is growing more terrible every month. It may last yet for years. We must go to our home and do the best we can for everybody,” replied the lady. And then she went over the whole subject as it had been discussed between herself and her husband.
“Yes, my dear, it is your duty to go home,” admitted the earl.
“Still, my dear brother, we are very sorry to leave you. I hope, however, that you will not go back to Enderby Castle, to your old solitary life there. It is very bad for you. I hope you will go up to London, and open your house on Westbourne Terrace, and call your friends together and entertain them, even though I shall not be there with my daughters to help you, as I had once hoped to be.”
“I shall not go to London, Elfrida. I have no friends there, and I hate society. No; I shall go to the United States with you,” said the earl.
“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed Mrs. Force, between surprise, pleasure and incredulity.
“Yes; I do most certainly mean it. I have never seen America, and though the state of civil war may not be the most pleasant aspect under which to view a new country, yet it is certainly the most interesting. And so, Elfrida, if you have no objection, I shall go with you to America.”
“You know that I am delighted at the thought of having you,” said the lady.
“Has Force written to engage passage?” inquired the earl.