that Marian
Holbrook was living, and in all probability safe--though by no means in
good hands. She had sailed for America with her father; but her husband
was in hot pursuit of her, and her husband was faithful.

"I have schooled myself to forgive him," Gilbert went on to say, "for I
know that he loves her--and that must needs condone my wrongs. I look
forward anxiously to their return from America, and hope for a happy
reunion amongst us all--when your warm friendship shall not be forgotten.
I am waiting impatiently for news from New York, and will write to you
again directly I hear anything definite. We have suffered the torments of
suspense for a long weary time, but I trust and believe that the sky is
clearing."

This was not much, but it was more than enough to relieve Ellen Carley's
mind of a heavy load. Her dear young lady, as she called Marian, was not
dead--not lying at the bottom of that cruel river, at which Ellen had
often looked with a shuddering horror, of late, thinking of what might
be. She was safe, and would no doubt be happy. This was something. Amid
the wreck of her own fortunes, Ellen Whitelaw was unselfish enough to
rejoice in this.

Her husband asked to see Mr. Fenton's letter, which he spelt over with
his usual deliberate air, and which seemed to interest him more than
Ellen would have supposed likely--knowing as she did how deeply he had
resented Marian's encouragement of Frank Randall's courtship.

"So she's gone to America with her father, has she?" he said, when he had
perused the document twice. "I shouldn't have thought anybody could have
persuaded her to leave that precious husband of hers. And she's gone off
to America, and he after her! That's rather a queer start, ain't it,
Nell?" Mrs. Whitelaw did not care to discuss the business with her
husband. There was something in his tone, a kind of veiled malice, which
made her angry.

"I don't suppose you care whether she's alive or dead," she said
impatiently; "so you needn't trouble yourself to talk about her."

"Needn't I? O, she's too grand a person to be talked of by such as me, is
she? Never mind, Nell; don't be cross. And when Mrs. Holbrook comes back
to England, you shall go and see her."

"I will," answered Ellen; "if I have to walk to London to do it."

"O, but you sha'n't walk. You shall go by rail. I'll spare you the money
for that, for once in a way, though I'm not over fond of wasting money."

Day by day Mr. Whitelaw's