And now she had desired to be left alone, and had expressly said, "I've made up my mind to write a letter to my sons." So she was left alone and undertook, with trembling hands and dimmed eyes, her unwonted task.

She wrote a letter which, if those about her could have seen it, would certainly have affected their feelings, and would perhaps have made them think more highly yet of her meek forgiving nature, for she neither blamed her sons nor reminded them of what they had done; but rather seemed to offer a strange kind of apology for troubling them, and to give a reason for doing so that was stranger still.
THE LETTER.
"Son Daniel and Son Augustus,--This comes from your poor unfortunate mother that has never troubled you these many, many years, and hoping you and your families are better than I am at present, son Daniel and you son Augustus; and my desire is both of you, that now you will not deny your poor mother to come and see her, but will, on receipt of this, come as soon as may be, for it's about my funeral that I want to speak, and my time is very short, and I was never used to much writing.
"If you don't come, in particular you, son Daniel, you will break your poor mother's heart.
"And so no more at present from her that never said an unkind word to you.
"Elizabeth Melcombe." This letter was addressed to the elder son, went through the village post-office, and when its direction was seen, such interest was excited and so much curiosity, that half the women in the hamlet had been allowed to take a look at its cover before it was sent away.
Perhaps Madam Melcombe herself, when she sat expecting these long-lost sons to appear, was scarcely more agitated or more excited than were the people in that sequestered place.

A good many cottagers were hanging about or looking out of the windows when they alighted, and going into the small inn called for spirits and water.

It was known outside at once what they had asked for.

No wonder they wanted some Dutch courage to take them into her presence, was the general thought.
Several little boys had gathered in front of the door longing, and yet dreading, to get a sight of them.