By the pilot, who left us at the Narrows, I sent back a few lines to
Mabel, also enjoining him, with the gift of a piece of gold, to mail my
letters on the following day, and receiving his promise to do so.
In this brief communication, I promised my dear child that we should
meet at my majority, and enjoined her to patience. "You will hear from
me again before long," I said, in conclusion; "and I will try and
arrange some plan of correspondence. Bad people have obliged me to this
step. Do not forget me, my darling, nor my lessons and counsel, and
believe ever in the honor and devotion of your sister. _Pray for me,
Mabel_! MIRIAM."
My letter to Evelyn Erie, without date, written on the ship, and sent
back by the pilot to be mailed also at New York, revealed my
acquaintance with a portion of her duplicity, and Mr. Bainrothe's dark
design.
I promised her my forgiveness on two conditions alone: one was, that she
should not seek to trace me, since all effort to regain me would be
fruitless; another, that she would be kind to Mabel, and my father's
ancient servants until my return, and, of these last, especially Morton.
I uttered no threats nor reproaches--asked no favors, beyond those which
I had a right to demand at her hands as my father's ward--long supported
by him, and even cherished with paternal tenderness--and the guardian of
his child.
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