And in this instance the earl's only means of so doing, for the present at least, was by taking refuge in that last haven of wounded love and cruel suffering-- silence.
The earl determined to maintain a silence unbroken as the grave regarding all the past, and his own relations with Captain Bruce-- that is, until he saw the necessity for doing otherwise.
One thing, however, smote his heart with a sore pang, which, after a week or so, he could not entirely conceal from Mr.Cardross.

Had Helen left him--him, her friend from childhood--no message, no letter?
Had her happy love so completely blotted out old ties that she could go away without one word of farewell to him?
The minister thought not.

He was sure she had written; she had said she should, the night before her marriage, and he had heard her moving about in her room, and even sobbing, he fancied, long after the house was gone to rest.

Nay, he felt sure he had seen her on her wedding morning give a letter to Captain Bruce, saying "it was to be posted to Edinburg." "Where, you know, we believed you then were, and would remain for some time.

Otherwise I am sure my child would have waited, that you might have been present at her marriage.