"Oh! I wish I wish," exclaimed Ellen from the bottom of her heart, "those letters had never been found!"
"Nay, Ellen, that is not right."
"But I promised Alice, Mrs. Vawse; ought I go away and leave him? Oh, Mrs. Vawse, it is very hard! Ought I?"
"Your father and your mother have said it, my child."
"But they never would have said it if they had known!"
"But they did not know, Ellen; and here it is."
Ellen wept violently, regardless of the caresses and soothing words which her old friend lavished upon her.
"There is one thing," said she at last, raising her head; "I don't know of anybody going to Scotland, and I am not likely to; and if I only do not before autumn that is not a good time to go, and then comes winter."
"My dear Ellen!" said Mrs. Vawse, sorrowfully, "I must drive you from your last hope. Don't you know that Mrs. Gillespie is going abroad with all her family? next month, I think."
Ellen grew pale for a minute, and sat holding bitter counsel with her own heart. Mrs. Vawse hardly knew what to say next.