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Rh Mrs. Dalton could scarcely muster sufficient self-command to give the letter to her husband; for once, she found herself without words. Mr. Dalton read the letter without speaking—the moment it was finished he rang the bell violently.—"Order post horses immediately," said he, in a scarcely audible voice to the servant.

"What do you intend to do?" exclaimed Mrs. Dalton, who had taken to the ordinary resource of crying, and was now seated with her face buried in her handkerchief. "I mean to go and fetch Julia without an hour's delay. I only hope that it will not be too late—I wish to God that I had never consented to part those children."

"We did it for the best," sobbed Mrs. Dalton, "but had you not better let me accompany you?"

"It would only be loss of time, I shall travel all night, and shall hope to have Julia home before the afternoon, to-morrow: you will take care of Ellen, and tell her that her sister is coming home." There was much in this arrangement