Page:The woman in battle .djvu/592

530 Our decision to return, however, was far from pleasing to my sister-in-law, who desired to reside in Spain. She blamed me for influencing my brother contrary to her wishes, and was jealous of my affection for him. The result was, that a coolness sprang up between us that made our intercourse with each other anything but a pleasure to either.

On our arrival in New York, my brother was persuaded by his wife to go to Mexico, where her sister resided. I was not willing to go with them ; and the result was, that we parted company, with many regrets on my side, at the prospect of a long separation from a brother whom I loved dearer than myself, and with whom I had only recently been reunited, after having scarcely seen each other during many years.

It could not be helped, however, and I felt that it was best he should go with his wife and children, leaving me to make my own way in the world, as I had been doing for so long a time. When they were once off, I turned my attention to my own affairs, and began to make plans for the future. Before determining, however, on any particular course, I concluded that I would make a trip through the South, for the purpose of observing the condition of the country, and of finding out whether there was anything I could do to advance the interest of the people among whom my lot had been cast for so many years, and who were endeared to me by so many of the strongest ties.