erefore, to find herself a room, clothes, breakfast and supper!

Her brother's letter was, as always, kind and affectionate. He rather
vaguely apologized for his delay in replying to hers, written at the
time of Miss Wickham's death. He had been frightfully busy, up at dawn
and so tired at night that he was glad to tumble into bed right after
supper. His wife, too, had had a sharp spell of sickness. However, she
was all right again, he was glad to say. Why did not Nora come out to
them? They would be glad to offer her a comfortable home, although she
must make up her mind to dispense with the luxuries she was accustomed
to. But there was always plenty to eat and a good bed, at any rate. He
knew she would grow to love the life as he had done. There was a fine
freedom about it. For his part, nothing would ever tempt him back to
England, except for a visit when he had put by a little more. She would
find his wife a good sort. She, too, would welcome her sister-in-law.
They would be no end of company for each other during the long days
while the men were away. And she would be glad to have someone to lend a
hand about the house.

He hoped she had been able to save enough money to pay her passage out.
If she hadn't, he would somehow manage to send whatever was necessary.
But while he was fairly prosperous, ready money was a little more scarce
than usual, for the moment. His wife's illness had been pretty
expensive, what with hiring a woman to do all the work, etc., etc.

The letter settled it. On the one hand was this heart-breaking waiting
while watching one's little hoard diminish from day to day and always
the terrifying and unanswerable question: What is to be done when it is
exhausted? On the other, a home and the prospect that she might be able
in a measure to pay her way by helping her brother's wife. Nora's
housewifely accomplishments were but few, yet she could learn, and while
learning she could at least take away the sting of those lonely hours,
as her brother had said. On one thing she was resolved: she would let
bygones be bygones. She would do everything in her power to win her
sister-in-law, forgetting everything but that she was the wife of her
only brother.

The next few days were the happiest she had known for a long time.
There was a pleasurable excitement in getting ready for so momentous a
step. After having paid her passage she found that she had eight pounds
in the world, the result of ten years' wo