I wish it may contain something pleasant.

God bless you," and with these words she departed.
I sat down on my stone, with my letter in my hand.

I knew perfectly well that it could have come from no other person than Isopel Berners; but what did the letter contain?
I guessed tolerably well what its purport was--an eternal farewell! yet I was afraid to open the letter, lest my expectation should be confirmed.

There I sat with the letter, putting off the evil moment as long as possible.

At length I glanced at the direction, which was written in a fine bold hand, and was directed, as the old woman had said, to the young man in "Mumpers' Dingle," with the addition, near -- -, in the county of-- Suddenly the idea occurred to me, that, after all, the letter might not contain an eternal farewell; and that Isopel might have written, requesting me to join her.