oss upon us,
there was all the more necessity for our getting John's money
as speedily as might be. Captain Cannonby introduced me to his
relatives, the Eyres, told them my husband wanted to go up the
country for a short while, and they invited me to stay with
them. And here I am, and very kind they are to me in this
dreadful trouble.

"Aunt Verner, I thought I should have died when, a day or two
after they started, I saw Captain Cannonby come back alone,
with a long, sorrowful face. I seemed to know in a moment
what had happened; I had thought at the time they started that
Fred was too ill to go. I said to him, 'My husband is dead!'
and he confessed that it was so. He had been taken ill at the
end of the first day, and did not live many hours.

"I can't tell you any more, dear Aunt Verner; I am too sick
and ill, and if I filled ten sheets with the particulars, it
would not alter the dreadful facts. I want to come home to
_you_; I know you will receive me, and let me live with you
always. I have not any money. Please send me out sufficient to
bring me home by the first ship that sails. I don't care for
any of the things we brought out; they may stop here or be
lost in the sea, for all the difference it will make to me: I
only want to come home. Captain Cannonby says he will take
upon himself now to look after John's money, and transmit it
to us, if he can get it.

"Mrs. Eyre has just come in. She desires me to say that they
are taking every care of me, and are all happy to have me with
them: she says I am to tell you that her own daughters are
about my age. It is all true, dear aunt, and they are
exceedingly kind to me. They seem to have plenty of money, are
intimate with the governor's family, and with what they call
the good society of the colony. When I think what my position
would have been now had I not met with them, I grow quite
frightened.

"I have to write to papa, and must close this. I have
requested Captain Cannonby to write to you himself, and give
you particulars about the last moments of Frederick. Send me
the money without delay, dear aunt. The place is hateful to me
now he is gone, and I'd rather be dead than stop in it.

"Your affectionate and afflicted niece,

"SIBYLLA MASSINGBIRD."

Lionel folded the letter musingly. "It would almos