Chapter 6

           Clervalthenputthefollowingletterintomyhands.ItwasfrommyownElizabeth:

           "MydearestCousin,

           "Youhavebeenill,veryill,andeventheconstantlettersofdearkindHenryarenotsufficienttoreassuremeonyouraccount.Youareforbiddentowrite—toholdapen;yetonewordfromyou,dearVictor,isnecessarytocalmourapprehensions.ForalongtimeIhavethoughtthateachpostwouldbringthisline,andmypersuasionshaverestrainedmyunclefromundertakingajourneytoIngolstadt.Ihavepreventedhisencounteringtheinconveniencesandperhapsdangersofsolongajourney,yethowoftenhaveIregrettednotbeingabletoperformitmyself!Ifiguretomyselfthatthetaskofattendingonyoursickbedhasdevolvedonsomemercenaryoldnurse,whocouldneverguessyourwishesnorministertothemwiththecareandaffectionofyourpoorcousin.Yetthatisovernow:Clervalwritesthatindeedyouaregettingbetter.Ieagerlyhopethatyouwillconfirmthisintelligencesooninyourownhandwriting.

           "Getwell—andreturntous.Youwillfindahappy,cheerfulhomeandfriendswholoveyoudearly.Yourfather’shealthisvigorous,andheasksbuttoseeyou,buttobeassuredthatyouarewell;andnotacarewillevercloudhisbenevolentcountenance.HowpleasedyouwouldbetoremarktheimprovementofourErnest!Heisnowsixteenandfullofactivityandspirit.HeisdesiroustobeatrueSwissandtoenterintoforeignservice,butwecannotpartwithhim,atleastuntilhiselderbrotherreturnstous.Myuncleisnotpleasedwiththeideaofamilitarycareerinadistantcountry,butErnestneverhadyourpowersofapplication.