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.
"To-morrow--" he muttered under his breath, and slowly tore the
sheet of note-paper into thin ribbons. He turned to Jeff. "Mr.
Charley won't be home until late," he said.
"Then I 'low yo' want yo' supper now, Sar?" But Carrington shook
his head.
"No, you needn't bother, Jeff," he said, as he turned toward the
stairs.
Ten minutes later and he had got together his belongings and was
ready to quit Thicket Point.
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