And to think you should have come back the very next day! She will be so sorry!" "Do you think so ?" said the earl, sadly, and said no more.
But, on his return to the Castle, he saw lying on his study-table a letter, in the round, firm, rather boyish hand, familiar to him as that of his faithful amanuensis of many years.
"It's surely frae Miss Helen--Mrs.Bruce, that is," said Malcolm, lifting it.

"But folk in love are less mindfu' than ordinar.

She's directed it to Charlotte Square, Edinburg, and then carried it up to London wi' hersel', and some other body, the captain, I think, has redirected it to Cairnforth Castle." "No remarks, Malcolm," interrupted the earl, with unwonted sharpness.
"Break the seal and lay the letter so that I can read it.

Then you may go." Bur, when his servant had gone, he closed his eyes in utter hopelessness of dejection, for he saw how completely Helen had been deceived.
Her letter ran thus--her poor, innocent letter--dated ever so long ago--indeed, the time when she had told her father she should write -- the night before her marriage-day: "MY DEAR FRIEND,--I am very busy, but have striven hard to find an hour in which to write to you, for I do not think people forget their friends because they have gotten other people to be mindful of too.

I think a good and happy love only makes other loves feel closer and dearer.