The delirium of happiness lasted intermittently a whole week, during the last three days of which Mrs. Rocke was constantly going to the door and looking up the road, as if expecting some one. The mail came from Tip-Top to Staunton only once a week--on Saturday mornings. Therefore, when Saturday came again, she sent her son to the post-office, saying: "If they do not come to-day they will surely write."
Traverse hastened with all his speed, and got there so soon that he had to wait for the mail to be opened.
Meanwhile, at home the widow walked the floor in restless, joyous anticipation, or went to the door and strained her eyes up the road to watch for Traverse, and perhaps for some one else's coming. At last she discerned her son, who came down the road walking rapidly, smiling triumphantly and holding a letter up to view.
She ran out of the gate to meet him, seized and kissed the letter, and then, with her face burning, her heart palpitating and her fingers trembling, she hastened into the house, threw herself into the little low chair by the fire and opened the letter. It was from Herbert, and read thus: "Hurricane Hall, Nov. 30th, 1843.
"My Dearest and Best Mrs. Rocke--May God strengthen you to read the few bitter lines I have to write. Most unhappily, Major Warfield did not know exactly who you were when he promised so much. Upon learning your name he withdrew all his promises. At night, in his library, he told me all your early history. Having heard all, the very worst, I believe you as pure as an angel. So I told him! So I would uphold with my life and seal with my death! Trust yet in God, and believe in the earnest respect and affection of your grateful and attached son, "Herbert Greyson.
"P.S.--For henceforth I shall call you mother."
Quietly she finished reading, pressed the letter again to her lips, reached it to the fire, saw it like her hopes shrivel up to ashes, and then she arose, and with her trembling fingers clinging together, walked up and down the floor.
There were no tears in her eyes, but, oh! such a look of unutterable woe on her pale, blank, despairing face!
Traverse watched her and saw that something had gone frightfully wrong; that some awful revolution of fate or revulsion of feeling had passed over her in this dread hour!
Cautiously he approached her, gently he laid his hand upon her shoulder, tenderly he whispered: "Mother!"
She turned and looked strangely at him, then exclaiming: "Oh, Traverse, how happy I was this day week!" She burst into a flood of tears.