I
have heard, accidentally, through the employer whom I have been
serving since we parted, that your old house by the river-side is
to let again."
Rose started from her chair. "Oh, Louis, if we could only live
there once more! My flower-garden?" she continued to Lomaque.
"Cultivated throughout," he answered, "by the late proprietor."
"And the laboratory?" added her brother.
"Left standing," said Lomaque. "Here is a letter with all the
particulars. You may depend upon them, for the writer is the
person charged with the letting of the house."
Trudaine looked over the letter eagerly.
"The price is not beyond our means," he said. "After our three
years' economy here, we can afford to give something for a great
pleasure."
"Oh, what a day of happiness it will be when we go home again!"
cried Rose. "Pray write to your friend at once," she added,
addressing Lomaque, "and say we take the house, before any one
else is beforehand with us!"
He nodded, and folding up the letter mechanically in the old
official form, made a note on it in the old official manner.
Trudaine observed the action, and felt its association with past
times of trouble and terror. His face grew grave again as he said
to Lomaque, "And is this good news really all the news of
importance you have to tell us?"
Lomaque hesitated, and fidgeted in his chair. "What other news I
have will bear keeping," he replied.
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