“Iwassureshewouldthinkbetterofit。Pooroldfellow!
I’vebeenthroughitall，andIcansympathize。“
Withthatheheavedagreatsigh，andthen，asifhehaddischargedhisdutytothepast，puthisfeetuponthesofaandenjoyedAmy’sletterluxuriously。
Whilethesechangesweregoingonabroad，troublehadcomeathome。ButthelettertellingthatBethwasfailingneverreachedAmy，andwhenthenextfoundheratVevay，fortheheathaddriventhemfromNiceinMay，andtheyhadtravelledslowlytoSwitzerland，bywayofGenoaandtheItalianlakes。Sheboreitverywell，andquietlysubmittedtothefamilydecreethatsheshouldnotshortenhervisit，forsinceitwastoolatetosaygoodbyetoBeth，shehadbetterstay，andletabsencesoftenhersorrow。Butherheartwasveryheavy，shelongedtobeathome，andeverydaylookedwistfullyacrossthelake，waitingforLaurietocomeandcomforther。
Hedidcomeverysoon，forthesamemailbroughtletterstothemboth，buthewasinGermany，andittooksomedaystoreachhim。Themomenthereadit，hepackedhisknapsack，badeadieutohisfellowpedestrians，andwasofftokeephispromise，withaheartfullofjoyandsorrow，hopeandsuspense。