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MY DEAR WIFE,-I need not say I was surprised to find your sisterly fears had so entirely overruled your wifely duties. You will, I hope, discover the former were overstrained. I am in receipt of your telegram. Pray remain with your parents as long as you and they desire. If you will apprise me of your return, I will meet you at the station. hope an eligible escort may be found for your return journey. With kind compliments to your family, and love to yourself, allow me to subscribe myself,

Your affectionate husband,

"JASON POLKELY SETON."

I

CHAPTER X.

SORROW AND PAIN.

He was right. Linda felt she had far better have remained at home, almost before she had got there. It was between nine and ten o'clock at night before she left the train; and then there was the long drive from Nunbriar to Clack in a jolting chaise, through snowcovered roads, with a dark sky overhead, and ghostly trees and hedgerows rising spectrally on either hand, and intense cold chilling her very bones.

Clack was buried in snow and slumber, when at last the tired traveller found herself at her father's door. No lights were visible; no sound was audible above, below, and around; the bell had been muffled, and gave back no ring in answer to the cabman's benumbed pulls. Susy had fallen into a deep, swoon-like sleep; and

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the others, all wearied out with days and nights of anxious watching, were sleeping soundly. Linda, sitting in the cab, and watching and listening in vain, began to cry with sheer fatigue and cold; and the cabman, losing all patience, begged to be permitted to fling a stone at one of the windows; when the door of the next house was opened, and a little gentleman in a dressing-gown looked cautiously out. On seeing the cab he came outside, and thrusting his candle forward, demanded in a whisper what they wanted.

Linda guessed who he was.

"O Mr. Theodore!" she cried, "we can't make them hear. Is she is Susy worse?" Folding his wrapper more closely round him, Mr. Theodore went up to the cab.

"Excuse me!" he began with a polite bow, "but may I ask the name of the fair lady by whom I am addressed ?"

When he heard who it was, his courtesy was even greater. What an honour for him to

awake and fancy he heard a horse's muffled tread on nature's fleecy covering. What unexpected happiness, to be the first to welcome the young bride to her paternal residence! Oh yes, he could make the ungracious portals open for her entrance. The song must be reversed: it must be, Get up and unbar the door for this occasion! And so chattering, he got her out and ushered her into Mrs. Clacker's little parlour, yet warm with the scarcely extinguished fire; and leaving her there, he hastily ran and dressed, and then climbing over the garden wall, he managed to make the household hear him at the back of the house.

There, though Linda was warmed and fed, and kissed and blessed, she saw her arrival was more a plague than a blessing. She had roused them all from much needed rest; and when her parents knew all, she saw they disapproved of the manner of her coming, though they were too tender to say as much. Susy

unfortunately heard, though the utmost caution had been used in their movements. And in her pain and weakness she became excited and hysterical, and Mr. Shrugg had to call Mr. Murkitroyd in. The latter, after administering a soothing draught, joined the family, and without hesitation told Mrs. Seton it was a pity she had arrived so inopportunely, and she might be thankful if she escaped a sick room on her own account, in consequence of her cold journey.

"He is a bear," Linda said afterwards, but her opinion was not seconded; indeed, his kindness had been so great since their trouble, that all the family appreciated it. Then Linda saw, too, how her coming disturbed the domestic arrangements; and, indeed, when she at length laid her aching head on her pillow, it was with a half wish she was back in her accustomed place.

Susy was not likely to die; but Mr. Murkitroyd did not smile as he gave this verdict,

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