George, that here was the one chance of bringing Elizabeth to England, wired to her—
"Your uncle ill in London and alone. Important for your interests you should see him at once. Pray come."
Elizabeth's reply by post the next day was—
"Dear Mr. Twisden,
"I am very sorry, but it is impossible for me to meet my dear uncle at present. I regret this doubly, as you say he is ill. As to my "interests," if you mean that I run the risk, by my absence, of forfeiting my uncle's inheritanoe, I can truly assure you that the possession of money has brought with it so much disillusion to me, that I have no desire to be burthened with more. If you think well, pray tell my uncle this. I hope to see him often in years to come; but not at present. Explanations would be demanded of me now which I cannot give. The only escape from this is a long separation, during which the wound he has suffered at my hand may be partially healed, and the cause which led me to inflict it will cease to be a matter of any interest to him.
"Lord Robert Elton has been here—and is gone. I had more than one conversation with him, the result of which I hope may be that we shall continue to be friends. Between him and me there could never be any strong sympathy. But, in spite of all his oddity, I rather like him.
"P.S.—I have just decided to go to Mentone for the winter with a sick friend who is ordered there. We shall
