himself to his own acres. He was tolerably familiar with certain
engaging little peculiarities of Mr. Ware's; he knew, for
instance, that the latter was a gentleman of excessively regular
habits; once each fortnight, making an excuse of business, he
spent a day in Memphis, neither more nor less. Norton told
himself with satisfaction that Tom was destined to return to the
surprise of his life from the next of these trips. This
conviction was the one thing which sustained Charley for some ten
days. They were altogether the longest ten days he had ever
known, and he had about reached the limit of his endurance when
Betty's groom arrived with a letter which threw him into a state
of ecstatic happiness. The sober-minded Tom would devote the
morrow to Memphis and business. This meant that he would leave
Belle Plain at sun-up and return after nightfall.

"You may not like Tom, but you can always count on him," said
Norton. Then he ordered his horse and rode off in the direction
of Raleigh, but before leaving the house, he scribbled a line or
two to be handed Carrington, who had gone down to the nearest
river landing.

It was nightfall when the Kentuckian returned, Hearing his step
in the hall, Jeff came from the dining-room, where he was laying
the cloth for supper.

"Mas'r Charley has rid to Raleigh, Sah," said he; "but he done
lef' this fo' me to han' to yo"--extending the letter.

Carrington took it. He guessed its contents. Breaking the seal
he read the half dozen lines.