But do you think, papa, that any good will come out of the London journey ?" "I can not tell; still, it was right to try.

You yourself said it was right to try." "Yes;" and then, seeing it was done now, the practical, brave Helen stilled her uncertainties and let the matter rest.
No one was surprised that weeks elapsed before there came any tidings of the travelers.

Then Mr.Menteith wrote, announcing their safe arrival in London, which diffused great joy throughout the parish, for of course every body knew whither Lord Cairnforth had gone, and many knew why.
Scarcely a week passed that some of the far-distant tenantry even, who lived on the other side of the peninsula, did not cross the hills, walking many miles for no reason but to ask at the Manse what was the latest news of "our earl." But after the first letter there came no farther tidings, and indeed none were expected.

Mr.Menteith had probably returned to Edinburg, and in those days there was no penny post, and nobody indulged in unnecessary correspondence.

Still, sometimes Helen thought, with a sore uneasiness, "If the earl had had good news to tell, he would have surely told it.