Sylvan, in which she acknowledged the receipt of his
letter, expressed her thanks to the colonel for his kindness, and
assured him that she should gladly avail herself of the escort of the
Nevilles and go out under their protection to Fort Farthermost.

This letter she put in the mail bag in the hall ready for the messenger
to take to the North End post office.

The second letter was a farewell to her grandfather, in which she
expressed her sorrow at leaving him even at his own command; her grief
at having offended him, however unintentionally; her prayers for his
forgiveness, and her hope to meet him again in health, happiness and
prosperity.

This letter Corona stuck on the card rack, where he would be sure to
find it.

Then she ordered her own little pony carriage, and went and put on her
bonnet and her warm fur-lined cloak and called Mark to bring her shawls
and traveling bags down to the hall.

When all this had been done, Corona called all the servants together,
made them each a little present, and then bade them good-by.

Then she stepped into the little carriage and bade the groom to drive on
to Violet Banks.

"I think I shall go no further than that to-night, my friends, and
leave for Washington to-morrow morning," she said, in a broken voice, as
the pony started.

"Then all ob us wot kin get off will come to bid yer annurrer good-by
to-morrow mornin'!" came hoarsely from one of the crowd, and was
repeated by all in a chorus.

The carriage rolled down the avenue to the ferry--not that Corona
intended to cross the river, for Violet Banks, it will be remembered,
was on the same side and a few miles north of Rockhold--but that she
would not leave the place without taking leave of old Moses, the
ferryman. Fortunately the boat lay idle at its wharf, and the old man
sat in the ferry house, hugging the stove and smoking his pipe.

He came out at the sound of wheels. Corona called him to the carriage,
told him that she did not want to cross the river, but that she was
going away for a while and wished to take leave of him.

Now old Moses had seen too many arrivals and departures to and from
Rockhold to feel much emotion at this news; besides he had no idea of
the gravity of this departure. So he only touched his old felt hat and
said:

"Eh, young mist'ess, hopes how yer'll hab a monsous lubly time! Country
is dull for de young folks in de winter. Gwine to de city, s'pose, young
mist'ess?"

"Yes, Uncle