She would always be grateful for his kindness to her, and hoped to keep his friendship.

But at present, and until the pain of the separation should be over, she entreated they should not meet.
Pen read Costigan's letter and its enclosure mechanically, hardly knowing what was before his eyes.

He looked up wildly, and saw his mother and uncle regarding him with sad faces.

Helen's, indeed, was full of tender maternal anxiety.
"What--what is this ?" Pen said.

"It's some joke.