Upon their arrival at Liverpool,
it had been the intention of Dr. Holmes and his wife to proceed to
London; but now they decided to delay a few hours until they should see
Marian safe in the house of her friends. The Rev. Theodore Burney was a
retired dissenting clergyman, living on his modest patrimony in a
country house a few miles out of Liverpool, and now at eighty years
enjoying a hale old age. Dr. Holmes took a chaise and carried Marian and
Rachel out to the place. The house was nearly overgrown with climbing
vines, and the grounds were beautiful with the early spring verdure and
flowers. The old man was overjoyed to meet Marian, and he received her
with a father's welcome. He thanked her friends for their care and
attention, and pressed them to come and stay several days or weeks. But
Dr. Holmes and Rachel simply explained that their visit was to their
parents in London, which city they were anxious to reach as soon as
possible, and, thanking their host, they took leave of him, of his old
wife, and Marian, and departed.
The old minister looked hard at Marian.
"You are pale, my dear. Well, I always heard that our fresh island roses
withered in the dry heat of the American climate, and now I know it! But
come! we shall soon see a change and what wonders native air and native
manners and morning walks will work in the way of restoring bloom.
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