rough and through with the biggest pin she could find, Rosa had
deposited her letter of leave-taking. This important document was read
over in the shop by an ever-increasing group, as the news got
abroad--for Elsworthy, like his wife, lost his head, and rushed about
hither and thither, asking wild questions as to who had seen her last.
Perhaps, at the bottom, he was not so desperate as he looked, but was
rather grateful than angry with Rosa for solving the difficulty. This is
what the poor little runaway said:--

"DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT,--I write a line to let you know that them as can
do better for me than any belonging to me has took me away for good.
Don't make no reflections, please, nor blame nobody; for I never could
have done no good nor had any 'appiness at Carlingford after all as
has happened. I don't bear no grudge, though aunt has been so unkind;
but I forgive her, and uncle also. My love to all friends; and you may
tell Bob Hayles as I won't forget him, but will order all my physic
regular at his father's shop.--Your affectionate niece,

"ROSA."

"_P.S._--Uncle has no occasion to mind, for them as has took charge of
me has promised to make a lady of me, as he always said I was worthy
of; and I leave all my things for aunt's relations, as I can't wear
such poor clothes in my new station of life."

Such was the girl's letter, with its natural impertinences and natural
touch of kindness; and it made a great commotion in the neighbourhood,
where a few spasmodic search-parties were made up with no real
intentions, and came to nothing, as was to be expected. It was a
dreadful thing to be sure, to happen to a respectable family; but when
things had gone so far, the neighbours, on the whole, were inclined to
believe it was the best thing Rosa could have done; and the Elsworthys,
husband and wife, were concluded to be of the same opinion. When
Carlingford had exhausted this subject, and had duly discussed the
probabilities as to where she had gone, and whether Rosa could be the
lady in a veil who had been handed into the express night-train by two
gentlemen, of whom a railway porter bore cautious testimony, the other
mysterious rumour about Mr Wentworth had its share of popular attention.
It was discussed in Masters's with a solemnity becoming the occasion,
everybody being convinced of the fact, and nobody knowing how it was to
be. One prevailing idea was, that Mr Wentworth's brother, who had
succe