ruth, the delight of my life--she was so
entirely happy, so amazed and delighted with all the wonderful things
she saw, so full of love and admiration for the best husband that ever
lived. Since her return to London, I perceive a complete change.

She makes no positive complaint, but she writes in a tone of weariness
and discontent; she says next to nothing of Marmaduke, and she dwells
perpetually on the one idea of my going to London to see her. I hope
with my whole heart that I am wrong; but the rare allusions to her
husband, and the constantly repeated desire to see her father (while she
has not been yet three months married), seem to me to be bad signs. In
brief, my anxiety is too great to be endured. I have so arranged matters
with one of my brethren as to be free to travel to London cheaply by
steamer; and I begin the journey tomorrow.

My lesser object may be dismissed in two words. Having already decided
on going to London, I propose to call on the wealthy nobleman who owns
all the land hereabouts, and represent to him the discreditable, and
indeed dangerous, condition of the parish kirk for want of means to
institute the necessary repairs. If I find myself well received, I
shall put in a word for the manse, which is almost in as deplorable a
condition as the church. My lord is a wealthy man--may his heart and his
purse be opened unto me!

Sister Judith is packing my portmanteau. According to custom, she
forbodes the worst. "Never forget," she says, "that I warned you against
Marmaduke, on the first night when he entered the house."

VI.

September 10th.--After more delays than one, on land and sea, I was at
last set ashore near the Tower, on the afternoon of yesterday. God help
us, my worst anticipations have been realized! My beloved Felicia has
urgent and serious need of me.

It is not to be denied that I made my entry into my son-in-law's house
in a disturbed and irritated frame of mind. First, my temper was tried
by the almost interminable journey, in the noisy and comfortless vehicle
which they call a cab, from the river-wharf to the west-end of London,
where Marmaduke lives. In the second place, I was scandalized and
alarmed by an incident which took place--still on the endless journey
from east to west--in a street hard by the market of Covent Garden.

We had just approached a large building, most profusely illuminated with
gas, and exhibiting prodigious colored placards having inscribed on
them