“Ruth tells me,” said the Governor, quietly, “that your uncle, Mr. Wharton, is with you. Is it William Wharton, of C—— County?”
Agnes answered in the affirmative.
“Once a very good friend of mine,” said he; “but it is many years since we have met. Where is he?”
“He came to the door with me,” answered Agnes, “and will return for me soon. He hoped to have the pleasure of seeing you, sir.”
“I will see him when he comes,” said the Governor. “Go you back to Ruth, my dear young lady. I will think of all you have said.”
When Mr. Wharton called, he was admitted to the Governor; and the two former friends, after a cordial greeting, were closeted together for a long time. He confirmed all that Agnes said of her brother, and assured the Governor that it was the opinion of physicians that he could not recover, and might not last a month. He spoke long and feelingly of the devotion of Agnes to her brother, in attendance upon whom, in his loneliness and imprisonment, she had worn out health and strength.
The eyes of the Governor now glistened with emotion as he said, “Well, well, I hope I shall not be doing wrong. At what time do you leave in the morning, Mr. Wharton?”
“In the very first train. Agnes cannot be longer from her brother’s bedside.”
“Can you bring her here for one moment before you leave?”
“Certainly.”