to Jane in his next letter, asking her to write to his
friend so that he might know of their whereabouts
should they need his services, for which Jane, in a
subsequent letter, thanked him, but made no mention
of sending to his friend should occasion require.
These subsequent letters said very little about their
plans and carefully avoided all reference to their
daily life or to Lucy's advancement in her studies,
and never once set any time for their coming home.
He wondered at her neglect of him, and when no
answer came to his continued letters, except at long
intervals, he could contain himself no longer, and
laid the whole matter before Martha.

"She means nothing, doctor, dear," she had answered,
taking his hand and looking up into his
troubled face. "Her heart is all right; she's goin'
through deep waters, bein' away from everybody she
loves--you most of all. Don't worry; keep on lovin'
her, ye'll never have cause to repent it."

That same night Martha wrote to Jane, giving her
every detail of the interview, and in due course of
time handed the doctor a letter in which Jane wrote:
"He MUST NOT stop writing to me; his letters are all
the comfort I have"--a line not intended for the
doctor's eyes, but which the good soul could not keep
from him, so eager was she to relieve his pain.

Jane's letter to him in answer to his own expressing