The uncle was much affected, and a word of entreaty from the young man would have induced him to recall the sentence of his doom; but as that word was not spoken, he could not quite unbend enough to voluntarily ask his nephew to remain.  Charles left on the morning after the interview, for the west, having, after due reflection, arrived at the conclusion that a competence could be secured there as speedily as anywhere else.  Fortune led him to the Mandeville settlement, where he soon became a favorite, and where he was in a fair way to accumulate a reasonable share of this world’s goods, when the incidents occurred and the mishaps befel him, which have already been narrated.

With these digressive remarks, thrown in to give the reader a fuller knowledge of the character and position of one of our most interesting characters, as, also, that what follows may be understood, we return to that portion of our story now supposed to be more deeply interesting to those who have followed us thus far, in the perusal of this more than merely romantic tale.

As we said, Hadley’s time was taken up first, in waiting upon his mother, and then upon his uncle.  In the midst of these trying but cheerfully performed duties, he found but little time to think upon his own prospects, though not an hour passed that the image of Eveline was not called up before his mental vision, and if left to the current of thought for a brief period, his reflections became of the most agonizing character, and the topics upon which he dwelt something like these: 

Was she sick? or, worse for his hope, had she passed to that “bourne from whence no traveler returns?” If alive, was she still persecuted by Duffel? was her father still resolved to force her to wed the villain against her will?

As such thoughts rushed through his mind, he almost became impatient of duty and ready to leave his post to fly to the rescue of his love.  But a groan from either of the invalids would instantly call back his wandering mind, and in the active labor of kindness and sympathy, he always forgot his own troubles.  It was well for him he knew not of the charge preferred against him by his base rival, and still better that he knew nothing of the villain’s intentions in regard to the idol of his heart, or he would probably have left the sick ones to care for themselves, and flown to the rescue of her he loved, ere she was stolen and conveyed to the cave.

In the midst of his duties at the bedsides of the afflicted, he had forgotten to inquire after his old friends, Ida and her mother; but so soon as Mrs. Hadley began to mend, she told him they were away from the city on a visit to some friends, but were expected to return in a few days.  He was glad to hear this, for as soon as he could leave, he wished to return to the west.  He made a confidant of his mother, and told her she must excuse his impatience to learn the fate of his affianced bride.  She remembered but too well the days of her youth to chide him, telling him he should go as early as he felt it safe to leave his uncle.  They had scarcely finished their little communications, when Charles was called to minister to the other invalid.  After making him as comfortable as possible, Mr. Scofield requested him to be seated, and then opened a conversation with him, on this wise: