Howard earnestly. "My poor Ned! my
brothers! my crippled husband! Oh, I sometimes think my heart will break!"
It was some minutes ere she could speak again, for weeping, and the others
wept with her.
But resuming. "We were visited by both armies," she said, "and one did
about as much mischief as the other; and between them there is but little
left: they did not burn us out at Pinegrove, but stripped us very bare."
"Aunt Lora, dear Aunt Lora!" Elsie sobbed, embracing her with much
tenderness; "we cannot restore the loved ones, but your damages shall be
repaired."
"Ah, it will take a lifetime; we have no means left."
"You shall borrow of me without interest. With the exception of the
failure of income from Viamede, I have lost nothing by the war but the
negroes. My husband's losses are somewhat heavier. But our united income
is still very large; so that I believe I can help you all, and I shall
delight to do it, even should it involve the sale of most of my jewels."
"Dear child, you are very very kind," Lora said, deeply moved; "and it may
be that Edward, proud as he is, will accept some assistance from you."
The next morning Mr. Dinsmore and Rose, Mr. Travilla and Elsie, mounted
their horses directly after breakfast, and set out to view for themselves
the desolations of Roselands and Ion, preparatory to considering what
could be done to restore them to their former beauty.
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