“It is? Call Elsie, then. Her feelings are all singularly healthful. Call her, and in her presence just invite me to go with you, simply to go with you—that will be the mildest form of your proposal—and see what Elsie will say. Come, do so.” Magnus turned with a smile, and beckoned Elsie to approach. Elsie came, with her bright face beaming with interest and inquiry. “Elsie, my love,” said Magnus, “I have been trying to persuade your mother to accompany us to our new home, and remain there for a few weeks.” “And leave father so suddenly, when I am leaving him, too! Oh, don’t press her to do any such a thing, dear Magnus. Oh, don’t think of leaving father just now, dearest mother,” said Elsie earnestly; then throwing herself in her mother’s arms, whispered anxiously: “Mother, don’t you love father? Oh, mother, tell me, before I go, that you love father.” “Yes, Elsie, I do love him. No, Magnus, I cannot leave him. I have helped to bereave him of his child for a season—I cannot leave him.” “But, oh, Alice!” said Magnus, drawing her apart, “think again! think what you will meet. How can you brave his anger?” “I shall not brave it, Magnus. It may be just, coming from him. At least I must bear it—patiently, too.” Just then the door was burst open by a servant, who exclaimed, in affright: “Madam!—mistress!—doctor!—Miss Elsie! Marster is a riding down the road, post-haste, to the house!” “Oh, my God! there is not a moment to spare. Good-by, my beloved child. God bless you!” said Alice, straining her daughter to her bosom. “Oh, mother, don’t you love father dearly? Tell me once more.” “Yes, yes, Elsie.” “Oh, mother, if you love him so dearly, get my pardon from him. Tell him how I grieve to be under the necessity of offending him. Get my pardon for me, beloved mother.” “I will do my very best. God bless you, my darling child! Good-by! Oh, Magnus, be good to her, be merciful, be loving, be tender. Oh, Magnus, I have torn the heart from my bosom and given it to you. Be good to her.” “May God deal by my soul as I deal by her heart!” said Magnus, folding his mother-in-law in a fervent embrace. Then they hurried out, hastened into the carriage, the blinds were let down, the doors closed, the whip cracked, and the vehicle rolled away. CHAPTER XXIII. “THE HEART OVERTASKED.” Oh, break, break, heart! poor bankrupt, break at once! To prison, soul! Ne’er hope for liberty! _—Shakspere._ Oh! do whate’er thou wilt! I will be silent. _—Joanna Baillie._ Alice heard an advancing step. She looked around. Milly stood at her side. “Where is your master? Did he enter by the back gate? Is he at the stables?” she inquired.