CHAPTER V.
ACHIEVEMENT Mrs.Muir of course heard often from her sister, and was satisfied with the general assurance that she was better and steadily improving.
Madge, however, was rather indefinite in her information.

As time passed, the idea of giving her friends in the East a surprise took possession of her fancy.

She instinctively felt that she needed every incentive to pursue the course she had resolved upon, since she often suffered from fits of depression hard to combat.

The hope of appearing like a new being to her relatives was another innocent motive for her long-prolonged effort.

Circumstances had never developed epistolary tastes in the sisters, and they were content with brief missives containing general assurances that all was well.