`` Why , Elizabeth 's oldest child must be quite a young woman now ! I -- I -- '' a sudden idea swept over and left her a little breathless . `` I would really like to see her . '' `` Then why do n't you write and ask her to come east and visit us ? '' asked George , who did not often speak , but who always spoke to some purpose when he did . Ellen and Charlotte looked at each other . `` I would like to see Elizabeth 's child , '' repeated Ellen firmly . `` Do you think she would come ? '' asked Charlotte . `` You know when James Sheldon died five years ago , we wrote to Elizabeth and asked her to come home and live with us , and she seemed almost resentful in the letter she wrote back . I 've never said so before , but I 've often thought it . '' `` Yes , she did , '' said Ellen , who had often thought so too , but never said so . `` Elizabeth was always very independent , '' remarked George . `` Perhaps she thought your letter savoured of charity or pity . No Ingelow would endure that . '' `` At any rate , you know she refused to come , even for a visit . She said she could not leave the farm . She may refuse to let her child come . '' `` It wo n't do any harm to ask her , '' said George . In the end , Charlotte wrote to Elizabeth and asked her to let her daughter visit the old homestead .
The letter was written and mailed in much perplexity and distrust when once the glow XXXXX momentary enthusiasm in the new idea had passed .
Charlotte Elizabeth In at for independent of over to with