Then, reasoning that it was no use informing my mother about it unless I told her everything, and knowing the effect my information would have on her, I determined to keep it to myself.
I never slept for a moment during the night, and before daylight arose, dressed myself and went outside.
My steps seemed drawn towards the scene of yesterday's adventure, and lighting a cigar, I strolled in that direction.
Entering the wood, I continued walking, not knowing exactly in what direction I was going. As the first rays of the sun appeared in the east I found myself near the brook where I had gone to wet my handkerchief the evening before, and knowing that I could not be far from the spot where I had discovered Edith (I already surprised myself calling her by her christian name), I proceeded to look for it.
Following the stream, I came to the place where I had wet the handkerchief, and tracing my footsteps had no difficulty in finding the exact spot.
The first thing that attracted my attention was the little boot I had cut off her foot; near it was a piece of paper. I picked it up, opened it and found it was a letter from Major Garren to Edith, commencing—"My dear Child."
From the number of terms of endearment used
