Deportment

           Richardleftusontheverynexteveningtobeginhisnewcareer,andcommittedAdatomychargewithgreatloveforherandgreattrustinme.Ittouchedmethentoreflect,andittouchesmenow,morenearly,toremember(havingwhatIhavetotell)howtheyboththoughtofme,evenatthatengrossingtime.Iwasapartofalltheirplans,forthepresentandthefuture.IwastowriteRichardonceaweek,makingmyfaithfulreportofAda,whowastowritetohimeveryalternateday.Iwastobeinformed,underhisownhand,ofallhislaboursandsuccesses;Iwastoobservehowresoluteandperseveringhewouldbe;IwastobeAda’sbridesmaidwhentheyweremarried;Iwastolivewiththemafterwards;Iwastokeepallthekeysoftheirhouse;Iwastobemadehappyforeverandaday."AndifthesuitSHOULDmakeusrich,Esther—whichitmay,youknow!"saidRichardtocrownall.AshadecrossedAda’sface."MydearestAda,"askedRichard,"whynot?""Ithadbetterdeclareuspooratonce,"saidAda."Oh!Idon’tknowaboutthat,"returnedRichard,"butatallevents,itwon’tdeclareanythingatonce.Ithasn’tdeclaredanythinginheavenknowshowmanyyears.""Tootrue,"saidAda."Yes,but,"urgedRichard,answeringwhatherlooksuggestedratherthanherwords,"thelongeritgoeson,dearcousin,theneareritmustbetoasettlementonewayorother.Now,isnotthatreasonable?""Youknowbest,Richard.ButIamafraidifwetrusttoit,itwillmakeusunhappy.""But,myAda,wearenotgoingtotrusttoit!"criedRichardgaily."Weknowitbetterthantotrusttoit.