king to find. Betty could deserve well of him by letting him know
where to find her! But then, all would be lost, and Betty's life a
failure indeed. She could not face it. And besides, as things were,
they were quite safe for the other two. The childish friendship had
faded out; would start up again, no doubt, if it had a chance; but
there was no need that it should. Pitt was at least heart-whole, if not
memory-free; and as for Esther, she had just declared a lover to be a
possibility nowhere within the range of her horizon. Esther would not
lose anything by not seeing Pitt any more. But then, _would_ she lose
nothing? The girl teaching to support herself and her father, alone and
poor, what would it be to her life if Pitt suddenly came into it, with
his strong hand and genial temper and plenty of means? What would it be
to Betty's life, if he went out of it? She turned and tossed, she
battled and struggled with thoughts; but the end was, she went on to
Washington without ever paying Esther a visit, or letting her know that
her old friend was looking for her.

CHAPTER XL.

_LONDON_.

The winter passed. In the spring Betty received a letter from Mrs.
Dallas, part of which ran as follows:--

'My husband and I have a new plan on foot; we have been meditating it
all winter, so it ought to be ripe now. We are going over to spend the
summer in England. My son talked of making us a visit again this year,
and we decided it was better we should go to him. Time is nothing to
us, and to him it is something; for although he will have no need to
practise in any profession, I agree with him and Mr. Dallas in thinking
that it is good a young man should _have_ a profession; and, at any
rate, what has been begun had better be finished. So, some time in May
we think to leave Seaforth, on our way to London. Dear Betty, will you
take pity on an old woman and go with us, to give us the brightness of
your youth? Don't you want to see London? and I presume by this time
Pitt has qualified himself to be a good cicerone. Besides, we shall not
be fixed in London. We will go to see whatever you would most like to
see in the kingdom; perhaps run up to Scotland. Of course what _I_ want
to see is my boy; but other things would naturally have an attraction
for you. Do not say no; it would be a great disappointment to me. Meet
us in New York about the middle of May. Mr. Dallas wishes to go as soon
as the spring storms are over. I have anoth