"Yes, and to-day, if there is a way," I answered, getting to my feet. "Oh, you can’t go so soon, Gilbert, and on so long a journey!" Constance answered, putting up her hand as if to restrain me. "Why not? The distance is nothing," I answered, with some pride. "See, Gilbert, what is this?" Constance interrupted, unfolding a paper she had picked up from the ground; "an order to pay you money, and for five hundred dollars. Surely, your aunt means all she says and more!" Yes, so it was; a fortune, and sent that I might come to her without loss of time or expense to my friends. "Oh, aunt, I will come, be sure!" I cried, scarce able to decipher the paper, so clouded were my eyes with tears. "You will need it all, Gilbert; it is so far, and you can’t go alone, you know. Oh, how I wish I were going with you!" the sweet girl exclaimed, clasping my neck as if no one could protect me so well as she. "I wish you were, sweetheart, for I shall be unhappy till I come back to you," I answered, my heart sinking at the thought of leaving her. "You must not feel that way, Gilbert, for you will not be long away," she answered, tears starting in her eyes. "I must stay, once I get there; but I will come back, and often, till that day, you know when," I answered, embracing her. Thus it was arranged, and going to the house I showed Aunt Jane’s letter to Mr. and Mrs. Hayward, who were as much surprised as we had been. When I told them I thought I ought to go to her at once, they both assented, as I had felt sure they would from the first. "If you think best," I said to Mr. Hayward after we had talked the matter over, "I will go on to town with Constance, and if there is a boat, I will go by that, and if not will take a horse and go across the country." "Do as you think best; and you are welcome to one of our horses, if you conclude to go that way," he answered. For this I thanked him, but declined, for I knew he needed them in his business, which was now grown somewhat, but not as much as it ought. "You will not think of going alone, Gilbert, I hope?" Mrs. Hayward spoke up, as she helped me to collect the few things I needed, and this as if she still saw in me the slender youth she had welcomed with so much kindness years before. "Why not? The country is open, and I have but to go ahead, and in three or four days at the most I will be there." "He is not going alone," Constance broke in at this. "The country is full of outlaws and wild beasts. Think what happened to him when he came to Appletop!" "It is not so bad as that now, you know, Constance," I answered; "and besides, I shall have money and a horse if I go overland." "It has not changed much, and some accident might happen to you, and then what would you do? Surely your Uncle Job or Mr. Fox will go with you, or if not, papa will be glad to, I know," the sweet child insisted.