Go, go, and come no more!
Go, leave me with my tears,
The only gift of thine
Which shall outlive the years.”
The letter which Jess had received from Mrs. Bryson of Blackheath Hall on that memorable day on which she was to prepare for her journey to visit the Trevalyns—had contained another item that had troubled the young girl greatly.
It ran as follows:
“We were greatly surprised, and need I add, pleased, by an unexpected visit from your affianced husband. Mr. Dinsmore was greatly troubled, however, over the fact that you had been permitted to go away from the hall.
“‘Mischief will come of it. A presentiment which I cannot shake off tells me so.’ He seems so downhearted over it that——Forgive me for breaking my promise to you, Jess. I thought it wisest and best to tell him where you had gone, to visit the Trevalyn family of New York. I also told him of the little incident which had intercepted your visit, and that you were on the farm of Lawyer Abbot’s brother-in-law, but were to start for New York with Lawyer Abbot the day after my letter reached you.
“Still he did not seem to be thoroughly satisfied. He walked the length of the drawing-room up and down with knitted brows, his face haggard and anxious.
“‘I repeat that I fear mischief will come of it,’ he declared. ‘Jess is a girl who has never been away from the seclusion of Blackheath Hall. She does not know the world of men and women beyond these confines. Ten to one she will as likely as not fall in love with some farmhand there, and marry him out of hand, or elope with him, or do something equally hoydenish. You know Jess is not like other girls.’