This was hardly fair, and Ellen was sorely tempted; but she was too brave and too true to yield to what she believed a selfish impulse.  She wound her arms about her husband’s neck and effectively testified her reluctance to permit the separation.  She declared, however, that she would not countenance his staying at home,—­that it was plainly his duty to go.  She begged only that he would return at the earliest moment he could do so conscientiously.  He earnestly assured her that she need have no doubt of that, and that a word from her would bring him home at any time.

“But if I am to go,” he continued, “you must have somebody to stay with you while I am away.  Why not ask Bertha Terry?  You used to be always out sketching together, and I know she would be delighted to come.”

“Bertha is a lovely girl, but—­I—­”

She paused, with trembling lips.

“But what, Ellen?  Of course I wish you to have whomever you may prefer.”

To his surprise and concern, his wife burst into a flood of tears.

“Ellen,” he said very tenderly, “I am afraid you are not well.  If this is so, I certainly cannot leave you.”

“Oh, no! oh, no!” she cried between her sobs.  “It is only because I shall miss you so,—­and because I have tried not to cry for so long that I must now,—­and because—­because I have a terrible feeling that I may never see you again.”

Edward permitted her tears to exhaust themselves to some extent before he spoke.  Then with gentleness and tact he introduced the subject of the European tour, upon which, he said, they might start very soon if the trip to Texas should be brought to a successful close.  He alluded to the priceless art-treasures which they would examine together, and which she would reproduce.  He dwelt upon the glories of the Alps, the charms of Italy, the wonders of Paris, with such good effect that Ellen presently dried her eyes and found her smiles again.

A few days later, on a raw October evening, Edward yielded to the urgent demands of his business and set out for the South.  It was at the time when the “boom” in the grazing-lands and real estate generally of Texas was at its height.  Railways were pushing out in all directions, opening new and profitable fields for investment, and immigrants were pouring into the State in unexampled numbers.  It was a period rich in opportunities that could never come again.  Edward set to work to make the most of them.  In the first place, he carefully attended to his commissions, resolutely repelling the swarm of speculators who hovered about every man supposed to possess a little capital, but all the time watchful and reflecting.  Then he began to make investments for himself.  He bought, sold, and bought again, until his funds were exhausted, and after that he wrote to St. Louis and borrowed money.  He was constantly on the move, much of the time in camp, making and saving many a dollar by acting as his own agent.