“I think you want an honest friend near you, Miss Clifton! But, one thing you can do—you can resolve not to form any matrimonial engagement until you have again met with Captain Clifton. And you can bind your resolution by a promise. Promise _me_, dear lady, by the interest I take in you, to hold yourself free from entanglements, until you see your cousin!” “Kate!—yes, I solemnly promise you, by all I hold sacred, that I will do as you advise in this matter! And, Kate, enfeebled as I am, or may become, in mind or body, I cannot break my pledged word! Good girl! You have saved me again! Oh, Kate! Kate! do you think I don’t know the full extent of your disinterestedness? Oh, Kate! noble girl! God reward you!” Catherine began to tremble so violently, that Miss Clifton threw her arms around her, and pressed her to her bosom, whispering, “Never fear, dear girl! sweet girl! I will not breathe another word! I would as soon sacrilegiously snatch the veil from the sanctuary, as breathe another word about it!” * * * * * When Catherine reached home in the afternoon, she found a message waiting her, from Mrs. Clifton, of Hardbargain. She went up immediately to the farm-house, and found that lady looking very happy. “Catherine, my dear, sit down. I have good news. I have just received a letter from Archer. He will be in Richmond in four days from this! But his duties are such that he will not be able to leave Richmond for some weeks. He begs me to meet him there! He has been promoted, Kate! He is now Major Clifton, and has been appointed aid-de-camp to the Governor!” “I am rejoiced to hear it, madam,” replied Kate, calmly, though her heart stood still with the suddenness of this news. “You will send over and inform Miss Clifton, will you not, madam?” “No, I think not, Catherine. Why excite and disturb her on the eve of a journey? Besides, Catherine, I have many misgivings! This long persistence in silence—his never mentioning her name in any of his few letters to me! his never replying to the letter I wrote upon the subject!—all this is foreboding! I must not meddle farther in this affair until I have seen my son, and can judge his state of mind in regard to it!... But, Catherine, my dear, I sent for you for this: I am going to Richmond on Tuesday, for the purpose of spending some weeks near my son. I need a female companion, and I have your grandfather’s and your brother’s consent for you to accompany me; that is, if you are willing. Will you go with me, Kate?” “I shall be very glad to do so, indeed, Mrs. Clifton!” said the young girl. “Then return home at once, Kate, and prepare for the journey. You will have a great deal to do, to make things comfortable for your grandfather and brother during your absence, and to get yourself ready for your city visit.” CHAPTER XXI. IN THE CITY.