Itwasonlycustom;forhehadnotbeendesiredtodoso.Ellinorwenttothewindowtoreadherletter;themanwaitingallthetimerespectfullyforherreply.Shewenttothewriting-table,andwrote:
\"Itisallright——quiteright.IoughttohavethoughtofitalllastAugust.Idonotthinkyouwillforgetmeeasily,butIentreatyouneveratanyfuturetimetoblameyourself.Ihopeyouwillbehappyandsuccessful.IsupposeImustneverwritetoyouagain:
butIshallalwaysprayforyou.Papawasverysorrylastnightforhavingspokenangrilytoyou.Youmustforgivehim——thereisgreatneedforforgivenessinthisworld——ELLINOR.\"
Shekeptputtingdownthoughtafterthought,justtoprolongthelastpleasureofwritingtohim.Shesealedthenote,andgaveittotheman.ThenshesatdownandwaitedforMissMonro,whohadgonetobedonthepreviousnightwithoutawaitingEllinor\'sreturnfromthedining-room.
\"Iamlate,mydear,\"saidMissMonro,oncomingdown,\"butIhaveabadheadache,andIknewyouhadapleasantcompanion.\"Then,lookinground,sheperceivedRalph\'sabsence.