nemy became too troublesome, and the
redoubtable iron ruler had lost none of its gruesome terrors.

Mrs. Worse, on the contrary, had become rather stout in the course of
years. Her legs would no longer "balance" her properly, as she said. But
still she refused to buy a carriage until all had "come right," which
she thought could not be long now.

When all had come right! It required a faith as blind as Mrs. Worse's to
reckon on such a possibility. Rachel had now been six years in Paris
without saying a word about coming home. What her occupation there
really was, Jacob Worse could never discover. Each time he sent her
money--and it was marvellous how much she used--he wrote her a few
lines. She always answered briefly and reservedly. Through his friend
Mr. Barnett he did not learn anything explicit. He only knew that Rachel
was still living in the house, and that they were much attached to her.
Mrs. Barnett's _salon_ was quite a place of assembly for the American
colony, among which were many rich and accomplished men. Any day might
bring the intelligence of her approaching marriage.

Worse was in the habit of reading the papers every morning as they sat
at breakfast in his mother's room. One day Mrs. Worse, who usually
occupied herself half the morning with her paper, read out to her son
that Pastor Martens had been nominated as clergyman in the town.

"Just fancy! So they are coming westward again!" ejaculated Mrs. Worse.
"I should like to know how little Madeleine has got on in married life,"
sighed the old woman, who knew but too well the uncertainty which
marriage brings with it. The news awoke many painful recollections in
Worse's breast, and he paced up and down in his office for a long time,
before he could bring himself to begin upon the foreign post, which lay
in a formidable packet on his desk.

Among the letters there was one from Barnett Brothers in Paris; he knew
the handwriting, but the office stamp was missing. As he opened it, it
struck him that it was longer than usual. He turned it over hastily.
What was this? Rachel Carman's signature stood at the foot of the
letter! Jacob Worse read as follows:--

"DEAR MR. WORSE,

"As I sit down to write to you, and thus carry out a long-formed
resolution, I feel so overcome by emotion, that I find it difficult to
control myself sufficiently, to express my thoughts _verbatim_. But now,
as I have made up my mind, I will endeavour to make my letter clear and