My Dear Miss Carmichael,—­I wish to apologize to you very humbly, and, through you, but not so humbly, to Mr. Lamb, for any harsh, and apparently cruel, things I said to or about him.  Your aunt, Mrs. Thomas, whom I met, with the Captain and Sylvanus, on their way to the schooner, enlightened me regarding Mr. Lamb’s history, of which I was entirely ignorant while at Bridesdale.  I should be sorry to think I had been guilty of wilfully wounding the feelings of anyone in whom you take the slightest interest, and I trust you will pardon me for writing that, apart from my natural gratitude for your patience with me and your kindness to me, a mere stranger, there is no one in the world I should be more sorry to offend than yourself.  Believe me,

My dear Miss Carmichael,
Ever yours faithfully,
EUGENE CORISTINE.

P.S.—­I have taken the liberty of addressing to you some trifles I
thought might interest the kind friends at Bridesdale.  E.C.

The note was satisfactory so far as it went, but there was not enough of it; no word about the gloves, the ring, the half confession, the promise, no word about coming back.  Still, it was better than nothing.  Eugene could be dignified too; she would let everybody see that letter.

“I hope you had a nice letter, Marjorie?” asked Mrs. Carruthers.  “You would like, perhaps, to read what Mr. Coristine has to say to me.”  Her niece replied that the letter was quite satisfactory, and the ladies exchanged documents.  That of Mrs. Carruthers read:—­

Dear Mrs. Carruthers,—­Since I left your hospitable mansion I have been like a boy that has lost his mother, not to speak of the rest of the family.  I look at myself like the poor newsboy, who was questioned about his parents and friends, and who, to put an end to the enquiries, answered:  “Say, mister, when you seen me, you seen all there is on us.”  Please tell Marjorie Thomas, and your own little ones, that, perhaps, if I am good and am allowed, I may run up before the end of next month, to see if the fall flowers are out, and if they have left any crawfish and shiners in the creek.  Will you kindly give the inclosure to Miss Carmichael, with whom, through my foolishness, I had an awkward misunderstanding that still troubles me a good deal.  If I had known I was offending her, I would not have done it for the world.  I cannot sufficiently thank you for your great kindness to my friend Wilkinson and me, nor shall I soon forget the happiest days of my life in your delightful home.  Please make my sincere apologies to the Squire, and any other dear friends whom I may have left abruptly, under the peculiar circumstances of my departure.  Remember me gratefully to Mrs. Carmichael, Mrs. Du Plessis, and the young ladies, and give my love to all the children. 
                 I am, dear Mrs. Carruthers,
Very sincerely and thankfully yours,
EUGENE CORISTINE.

P.S.—­Please forgive me for sending a few bonbons for the children
by this mail.  E.C.