--The carriage is at the door. Laura and I set out on our
visit to the Arnolds to-day.
POLESDEAN LODGE, YORKSHIRE.
23rd.--A week in these new scenes and among these kind-hearted
people has done her some good, though not so much as I had hoped.
I have resolved to prolong our stay for another week at least. It
is useless to go back to Limmeridge till there is an absolute
necessity for our return.
24th.--Sad news by this morning's post. The expedition to Central
America sailed on the twenty-first. We have parted with a true
man--we have lost a faithful friend. Water Hartright has left
England.
25th.--Sad news yesterday--ominous news to-day. Sir Percival
Glyde has written to Mr. Fairlie, and Mr. Fairlie has written to
Laura and me, to recall us to Limmeridge immediately.
What can this mean? Has the day for the marriage been fixed in our
absence?
II
LIMMERIDGE HOUSE.
November 27th.--My forebodings are realised. The marriage is
fixed for the twenty-second of December.
The day after we left for Polesdean Lodge Sir Percival wrote, it
seems, to Mr. Fairlie, to say that the necessary repairs and
alterations in his house in Hampshire would occupy a much longer
time in completion than he had originally anticipated.
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