IsitLaura’sreluctancetobecomehiswifethathassetmeagainsthim？HaveHartright’sperfectlyintelligibleprejudicesinfectedmewithoutmysuspectingtheirinfluence？DoesthatletterofAnneCatherick’sstillleavealurkingdistrustinmymind，inspiteofSirPercival’sexplanation，andoftheproofinmypossessionofthetruthofit？Icannotaccountforthestateofmyownfeelings；theonethingIamcertainofis，thatitismyduty——doublymydutynow——nottowrongSirPercivalbyunjustlydistrustinghim。Ifithasgottobeahabitwithmealwaystowriteofhiminthesameunfavourablemanner，Imustandwillbreakmyselfofthisunworthytendency，eventhoughtheeffortshouldforcemetoclosethepagesofmyjournaltillthemarriageisover！Iamseriouslydissatisfiedwithmyself——Iwillwritenomoretoday。
December16th——Awholefortnighthaspassed，andIhavenotonceopenedthesepages。Ihavebeenlongenoughawayfrommyjournaltocomebacktoitwithahealthierandbettermind，Ihope，sofarasSirPercivalisconcerned。
Thereisnotmuchtorecordofthepasttwoweeks。Thedressesarealmostallfinished，andthenewtravellingtrunkshavebeensentherefromLondon。
PoordearLaurahardlyleavesmeforamomentallday，andlastnight，whenneitherofuscouldsleep，shecameandcreptintomybedtotalktomethere。`Ishallloseyousosoon，Marian，’shesaid；`ImustmakethemostofyouwhileIcan。’
TheyaretobemarriedatLimmeridgeChurch，andthankHeaven，notoneoftheneighboursistobeinvitedtotheceremony。Theonlyvisitorwillbeouroldfriend，MrArnold，whoistocomefromPolesdeantogiveLauraaway，herunclebeingfartoodelicatetotrusthimselfoutsidethedoorinsuchinclementweatheraswenowhave。IfIwerenotdetermined，fromthisdayforth，toseenothingbutthebrightsideofourprospects，themelancholyabsenceofanymalerelativeofLaura’s，atthemostimportantmomentofherlife，wouldmakemeverygloomyandverydistrustfulofthefuture。ButIhavedonewithgloomanddistrust——thatistosay，Ihavedonewithwritingabouteithertheoneortheotherinthisjournal。