"From the hospital, sir. I had the letter this morning. There was one from Fanny too, and I have sent them both to my husband."
The Vicar hardly knew what to think. Like Mrs. Tate, he feared it must be the effect of her illness from which the poor woman was suffering. He talked to her for several minutes, and tried to persuade her not to tell Eliza until she had some further confirmation of the news.
"Oh, sir; but I cannot wait! Eliza has grieved so about Fanny, that she ought to hear the good news as soon as anybody."
"Yes; and because she has grieved more than is usual for her sister's death, I want to spare her any future disappointment," said the Vicar, kindly. "Will you trust me in this matter? As you know, Eliza has not been well since the news came of her sister's death, and she must be told very gently that she is living, lest the news should do even more harm. Now, leave it to me, and I will go at once and make further inquiries about this report. And if I find it is indeed true, I will bring the news to you at once, and then you shall come and tell Eliza yourself as soon as I get back."
Mrs. Brown found it hard to yield to the Vicar's wish on this point; but she knew it was for her child's sake he asked it, and so, for her sake, she consented, and went home again without seeing Eliza, or telling any one but the Vicar of her wonderful news.
[CHAPTER XX]
CONCLUSION
IT was with eager anticipation that Mrs. Brown looked forward to the return of the Vicar, for when she reached home and sat down to rest and think over the matter once more, she gradually came to understand that it was not so strange, after all, that people should doubt if such wonderful news could be true. Indeed, the more calm and quiet she grew the more reasonable this view of the matter became, especially when she considered that none but herself had seen the letter from the hospital.
When, at last, she saw the Vicar walking briskly up the street, she went at once and opened the door, for she felt sure he brought her good news.
"I have seen her, Mrs. Brown! I have seen your Fanny," he said, almost as eagerly as the poor woman herself had spoken that morning at the Vicarage.