But among the various small documents which she had treasured up for use, should they be needed for some possible occasion such as this, was a note, which had not, indeed, been posted, but which purported to have been written by the minister, Allan, to Caldigate himself, offering to perform the marriage at Ahalala, but advising him to have the ceremony performed at some more settled place, where an established church community with a permanent church or chapel admitted the proper custody of registers.

Nothing could be more sensible, or written in a better spirit than this letter, though the language was not that of an educated man.

This letter, Caldigate had, she said, showed to her, and she had retained it.

Then she brought forward two handkerchiefs which she herself had marked with her new name, Euphemia Caldigate, and the date of the year.

This had been done, she declared, immediately after her marriage, and the handkerchiefs seemed by their appearance to justify the assertion.