His excuses are vague and insufficient.

I cannot doubt that he has got among his former companions again.

Oh, why did I leave him! I wish--I do intensely wish he would return! June 29th .-- No Arthur yet; and for many days I have been looking and longing in vain for a letter.

His letters, when they come, are kind, if fair words and endearing epithets can give them a claim to the title--but very short, and full of trivial excuses and promises that I cannot trust; and yet how anxiously I look forward to them! how eagerly I open and devour one of those little, hastily-scribbled returns for the three or four long letters, hitherto unanswered, he has had from me! Oh, it is cruel to leave me so long alone! He knows I have no one but Rachel to speak to, for we have no neighbours here, except the Hargraves, whose residence I can dimly descry from these upper windows embosomed among those low, woody hills beyond the Dale.

I was glad when I learnt that Milicent was so near us; and her company would be a soothing solace to me now; but she is still in town with her mother; there is no one at the Grove but little Esther and her French governess, for Walter is always away.