"Good heavens! how do you know?"
"I know her too well; but I will ask her directly."
Hinton was silent.
After a short pause, Mrs. Home broke out passionately,—
"How dare you insinuate doubts of so noble a creature?"
"I could only believe facts."
"Has a letter never gone astray? Has a letter never failed to reach the hands it was meant for? Mr. Hinton, I am ashamed of you."
"If you can prove that she never got it?"
"I know she never got it. She is changed; her heart is half broken. But I will prove it. I will go to her at once. Are you still going to Scotland?"
"I need not go until I hear from you. You have astonished me greatly."