The
Captain related incidents in his military life, while Harry, who had
been a great reader, drew on both memory and imagination for tales of
the Great West, with an occasional ghost story, supported by
irrefutable witnesses. The day before their departure, Aunt Ella took
Florence to her boudoir and told her what she had written to _her_
sister, Nathaniel's wife, about her children's marriages.
"I hope Sarah will let your father read my letter. I said just what I
thought, and I shall stand by Maude and her husband come what may."
"And so will I," cried Florence. "You helped Reginald by solving the
mystery of that check, and I will do all I can to help Maude and
Harry. I think he is a fine fellow, and Reggie says they have become
like two brothers."
"I am glad to hear," said Aunt Ella, "that they are bound by love as
well as by law."
In about a month there came a long letter from Maude.
"DEAR AUNT ELLA AND SISTER ALICE:--I have so much to tell you that I
hardly know where to begin. We had a fine trip--no storms--and none
of us missed a meal, which was bad for the company. But they made up
their loss on others who ate a supper on leaving England and a
breakfast on reaching America.
"Mother was delighted to see us and father was so nice to us all that
I came near fainting. He is a changed man. I wonder what drug he has
been taking.
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