You will not hesitate, I am sure, after reading
this letter, to return to England the moment you can leave your poor
brother."
There was more in the letter, but it dealt with purely business
matters, which did not interest the person who had become
clandestinely possessed of it.
To say that Mrs. Wilders read this letter with surprise would
inadequately express its effect upon her. She was altogether taken
aback, dismayed, horror-stricken at its contents.
Now, when chance, or something worse, had cleared the way towards the
great end, after which she had always eagerly, but almost hopelessly,
hankered, a new and entirely unexpected obstacle suddenly supervened.
Another life was thrust in between her and the proximate enjoyment of
high rank and great wealth.
Who was this interloper--this McKay--this private soldier serving in
the ranks of the Royal Picts? What sort of man? What were his
prospects--his age? Was it likely that he would stand permanently in
her way?
These were facts which she must speedily ascertain. The regiment to
which he belonged was in the Crimea, part of her uncle's brigade.
Surely through him she might discover all she wanted to know. But how
could this be best accomplished?
The more she thought over it, the more convinced she was that she
ought to go in person to the Crimea, to prosecute her inquiries on the
spot.
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