Affectionately he hoped no alarm amongst his friends had been entertained on his account, that it would not be long before he returned home; for as soon as the slow-sailing Spaniard could finish her affairs with the ports along the coast of Spanish America and reach New York, Lieutenant Mordaunt and himself had determined on quitting her, and returning to England by the first packet that sailed.

A letter to New York might reach him, but it was a chance; therefore he did not expect to receive any certain intelligence of home--a truth which only made him the more anxious to reach it.
Quickly the news that Edward Fortescue lived, and was returning home in perfect health, extended far and wide, and brought joy to all who heard it.

A messenger was instantly despatched to Trevilion Vicarage to impart the joyful intelligence to Arthur and Emmeline, and the next day saw them both at Oakwood to rejoice with Ellen at this unexpected but most welcome news.

There was not one who had been aware of the suspense Mr.Hamilton and Ellen had been enduring who did not sympathise in their relief.

Even Mrs.Greville left her solitary home to seek the friends of her youth: she had done so previously when affliction was their portion.
She had more than once shared Ellen's anxious task of nursing, when Mrs.
Hamilton's fever had been highest; kindly and judiciously she had soothed in grief, and Mrs.Greville's character was too unselfish to refuse her sympathy in joy.
A few weeks after the receipt of that letter, Mr.Hamilton, his wife, and Ellen removed to a beautiful little villa in the neighbourhood of Richmond, where they intended to pass some of the winter months.