Emily retained her hand.
'You have not yet had from me one word of gratitude, Mrs.Baxendale,' she said.

'Indeed, I have no words in which to thank you.' The lady kissed her forehead, pressed the thin hand again, and went for a few moments to Mrs.Hood's room before departing.
It was nearly an hour before Emily took up the letter to open it.

When at length she did so, she found that it covered only a small sheet of notepaper.

Enclosed was a letter from Mr.Athel, announcing the family's arrival in London, asking in a kind tone for the latest news, and repeating the message from the twins of which Mrs.Baxendale had spoken.
Wilfrid wrote with admirable delicacy and feeling; he forgot himself wholly in her affliction, and only in those simplest words which can still be made the most powerful uttered the tenderness which he hoped might speak some comfort to her heart.

He did not ask to see her; would she not bid him come to her in her own good time?
And only if her strength rendered it quite easy, he begged for one word of reply.