AnnabelBalchwas，ifnotthegirlHarneyoughttomarry，atleastthekindofgirlitwouldbenaturalforhimtomarry。Charityhadneverbeenabletopictureherselfashiswife;hadneverbeenabletoarrestthevisionandfollowitoutinitsdailyconsequences;butshecouldperfectlyimagineAnnabelBalchinthatrelationtohim。
Themoreshethoughtofthesethingsthemorethesenseoffatalityweighedonher：shefelttheuselessnessofstrugglingagainstthecircumstances。Shehadneverknownhowtoadaptherself;shecouldonlybreakandtearanddestroy。ThescenewithAllyhadleftherstrickenwithshameatherownchildishsavagery。WhatwouldHarneyhavethoughtifhehadwitnessedit？Butwhensheturnedtheincidentoverinherpuzzledmindshecouldnotimaginewhatacivilizedpersonwouldhavedoneinherplace。Shefeltherselftoounequallypittedagainstunknownforces……
Atlengththisfeelingmovedhertosuddenaction。ShetookasheetofletterpaperfromMr。Royall’soffice，andsittingbythekitchenlamp，onenightafterVerenahadgonetobed，beganherfirstlettertoHarney。Itwasveryshort：
IwantyoushouldmarryAnnabelBalchifyoupromisedto。IthinkmaybeyouwereafraidI’dfeeltoobadaboutit。IfeelI’dratheryouactedright。
YourlovingCHARITY。