and whether you come out or whether you do not, whatever I leave
behind me will be yours. I do hope that you will at any rate come
out for a time. Later on, if you don't like the life here, you can
fall back upon your own plan.

"If you decide to come, write to my agent. I inclose envelope
addressed to him. Tell him when you can be ready. He will put you
in the way of the people you had better go to for your outfit, will
pay all bills, take your passage, and so on.

"Whatever you do, do not stint yourself. The people you go to will
know a great deal better than you can do what is necessary for a
lady out here. All you will have to do will be to get measured and
to give them an idea of your likes and fancies as to colors and so
on. They will have instructions from my agent to furnish you with
a complete outfit, and will know exactly how many dozens of everything
are required.

"I can see no reason why you should not start within a month after
the receipt of this letter, and I shall look most anxiously for a
letter from you saying that you will come, and that you will start by
a sailing ship in a month at latest from the date of your writing."

Isobel did not hesitate, as her faith in her uncle was unbounded.
Next to her meetings with her brother, his letters had been her
greatest pleasures. He had always taken her part; it was he who,
at her request, had Robert placed at school, and he had kept her
at Miss Virtue's in spite of her mother's complaints. At home she
had never felt comfortable; it had always seemed to her that she
was in the way; her mother disapproved of her; while from Helena