f the house.

CHAPTER VI.

A FLIGHT FROM BLUE CLIFFS.

Laura Lytton staid two days with her relatives at Lytton Lodge, and was
just turning over in her mind the difficult subject of breaking the news
of her immediate departure to Uncle Jacky, whom she felt sure would
bitterly oppose it, when, on the evening of the second day, she received
a surprise in the form of a call from Craven Kyte.

The visitor was shown into the big parlor, where all the family, except
Alden and Charley, were assembled, and engaged in cheerful conversation
around the evening lamp.

He came in bowing, shook hands with everybody, and then took the seat
that was offered him and drew a letter from his pocket, saying,
humorously:

"In these latter days, when every one has a mission, it seems to me that
my mission is to fetch and carry letters. I happened to call at Blue
Cliffs this morning and to mention while there that I was going to White
Perch Point and should take Lytton Lodge in my way, and would carry any
message that was desired to Miss Laura Lytton, who I understood was on a
visit there. And then Miss Cavendish requested me to take a letter to
you, which she sat down and wrote right off at once. And here it is,
miss," he concluded, placing the letter in Laura's hands.

Laura asked leave of her company, and then opened the envelope and read
as follows:

"BLUE CLIFFS, Thursday afternoon.

"MY DEAREST LAURA:--The opportune arrival of Mr. Craven Kyte, on
his way to White Perch Point and Lytton Lodge, furnishes me with
the means of communicating with you sooner than I could manage to
do by mail.

"You will be very much surprised at what I am about to tell you.

"_Mary Grey has left Blue Cliffs._

"She left so suddenly that I scarcely yet can realize that she
has gone.

"My grandmother and myself opposed her departure most earnestly.
We used every means in the world but absolute force to keep her
here.

"But she would go. She said her health and spirits required the
change. You know she was ailing when you left here.

"Well, she has gone to Charlottesville, where she says she has
some lady friend who keeps a boarding-house for the students of
the University. So if your brother returns to the University he
may have an opportunity of renewing his very pleasant
acquaintance with her. I do not know when, if ever, she will
return.