more likely to meet Herman by going to town than by staying here.
Washington is the great center of attraction at this season of the year.
Everyone goes there. I have a pleasant furnished house on Lafayette
Square. It has been quite ready for our reception for the last
fortnight. Some of our servants have already gone up. So, my love, I
have fixed our departure for Saturday morning, if you think you can be
ready by that time. If not, I can wait a day or two."

"I thank you, mamma; I thank you very much; but pray do not
inconvenience yourself on my account. I cannot go to town. I must stay
here and wait my husband's return--if he ever returns," murmured
Berenice to herself.

"But suppose he is in Washington?"

"Still, mamma, as he has not invited me to follow him, I prefer to stay
here."

"But surely, child, you need no invitation to follow your husband,
wherever he may be."

"Indeed I do, mamma. I came to him from Europe here, and my doing so
displeased him and drove him away from his home. And I myself would
return to my native country, only, now that I am in my husband's house,
I feel that to leave it would be to abandon my post of duty and expose
myself to just censure. But I cannot follow him farther, mamma. I
cannot! I must not obtrude myself upon his presence. I must remain here
and pray and hope for his return," sighed the poor young wife.

"Berenice, this is all wrong; you are morbid; not fit, in your present