s, and give my love to Granny
Butson. Master Clem is putting on flesh wonderful, and I reckon the
pair of them are in no hurry to get home to school.

"Talking of that, I would like to hear how the school gets along, and
Miss Marvin--"

"Eh?" Mrs. Trevarthen interrupted. "Why, come to think of it, he's never
heard of your coming to look after us, but reckons you'm still at the
school-mistressing. And you standing there and reading out his very
words! I call that a proper joke."

"--And that limb of ugliness, Rosewarne. But by the time this
reaches you we shall be loaded and ready for sailing; so no news can
I hear till I get home, and perhaps it is lucky. Good-bye now.
If the world went right, it is not you would be living in the Widows'
Houses, nor I that would be finding it hard to forgive folks; but as
Nicky Vro used to say, 'Must thank the Lord, I reckon, that we be so
well as we be.' No more at present from your loving son,"
"Tom."

"I don't understand the tail-end o' that," said Mrs. Trevarthen. "Would
you mind reading it over again, my dear?--Well, well, you needn't to flush
up so, that he finds it hard to forgive folks. Meanin' you, d'ee think?
He don't speak unkindly of any but Rosewarne; and I don't mind that I've
heard news of that varmint for a month past. Have you?"

Hester did not answer--scarcely even heard. The hand in which she held
the letter fell limp at her side as she stood gazing across the quadrangle
facing the sun, but with a soft, new-born light in her eyes, that did not
owe its kindling there. Why had he played this trick on her? She could
not explain, and yet she understood. For her he had meant that letter--
yes, she was sure of it! To her, as though for another, he had spoken
those words--she remembered every one of them. He had not dared to speak
directly. And he had made her write them down. Foolish boy that he was,
he had been cunning. Did she forgive him? She could not help forgiving;
but it was foolish--foolish!

She put on her bonnet that evening and walked down to see Nuncey and have
a talk with her; not to confide her secret, but simply because her elated
spirit craved for a talk.

Greatly to her disappointment, Nuncey was out; nor could Mrs. Benny tell
where the girl had gone, unless (hazarding a guess) she had crossed the
ferry to her father's fine ne