’Butyouwillseehimyourself？’
’No，mother；nottillIhavebeentoAllington。ThenIwillseehimagainornot，justashepleases。IshallstopatGuestwick，andwillwritetoalinefromthence。Ifmyfatherdecidesondoinganything，letmeknowatonce，asitwillbenecessarythatIshouldgetridoftheleaseofmyhouse。’
’Oh，Henry！’
’Ihavethoughtagreatdealaboutit，mother，andIbelieveIamright。
WhetherIamrightorwrong，Ishalldoit。Iwillnotaskyounowforanypromiseorpledge；butshouldMissCrawleybecomemywife，Ihopethatyouatleastwillnotrefusetoseeherasyourdaughter。’Havingsospoken，hekissedhismother，andwasabouttoleavetheroom；butsheheldhimbyhisarm，andhesawthathereyeswerefulloftears。
’Dearestmother，ifIgrieveyouIamsorryindeed。’
’Notme，notme，notme，’shesaid。
’Formyfather，Icannothelpit。HadhenotthreatenedmeIshouldhavetoldhimalso。Ashehasdoneso，youmusttellhim。Butgivehimmykindestlove。’
’Oh，Henry；youwillberuined。Youwill，indeed。Canyounotwait？
Rememberhowheadstrongyourfatheris，andhowgood；——andhowhelovesyou！Thinkofallhethathehasdoneforyou。Whendidherefuseyouanything？’
’Hehasbeengoodtome，butinthisIcannotobeyhim。Heshouldnotaskme。’
’Youarewrong。Youareindeed。Hehasarighttoexpectthatyouwillnotbringdisgraceuponthefamily。’
’NorwillI；——exceptsuchdisgraceasshallattenduponpoverty。
Good—bye，mother。Iwishyoucouldhavesaidonekindwordtome。’
’HaveInotsaidakindword？’
’Notasyet，mother。’
’Iwouldnotfortheworldspeakunkindlytoyou。IfitwerenotforyourfatherIwouldbidyoubringwhomyoupleasedhometomeasyourwife；andIwouldbeasamothertoher。Andifthisgirlshouldbecomeyourwife——’
’Itshallnotbemyfaultifshedoesnot。’
’Iwilltrytoloveher——someday。’
Thenthemajorwent，leavingEdithattherectory，asrequestedbyhismother。Hisowndog—cartandservantwereatPlumstead，andhedrovehimselfhometoCosbyLodge。
Whenthearchdeaconreturnedthenewswastoldtohimatonce。’HenryhasgonetoAllingtontoproposetoMissCrawley，’saidMrsGrantly。
’Gone——withoutspeakingtome！’
’Helefthislove，andsaidthatitwasuselessremaining，asheknewheshouldonlyoffendyou。’
’Hehasmadehisbed，andhemustlieuponit，’saidthearchdeacon。
AndthentherewasnotanotherwordsaidaboutGraceCrawleyonthatoccasion。
CHAPTERXXIII
MISSLILYDALE’SRESOLUTION
TheladiesattheSmallHouseatAllingtonbreakfastedalwaysatnine——aliberalnine；andthepostmanwhosedutyitwastodeliverlettersinthatvillageathalf—pasteight，beingalsoliberalinhisideasastotime，alwaysarrivedpunctuallyinthemiddleofbreakfast，sothatMrsDaleexpectedherletters，andLilyhers，justbeforethesecondcupoftea，asthoughthelettersformedapartofthemorningmeal。Jane，themaidservant，alwaysbroughtthemin，andhandedthemtoMrsDale——forLilyhadinthesedayscometopresideatthebreakfasttable；andthentherewouldbeanexaminationoftheoutsidesbeforetheenvelopeswereviolated，andaseachpartyknewprettywellthecircumstancesofthecorrespondenceoftheother，therewouldbesomeguessingastowhatthisorthatepistlemightcontain；andafterthatareadingoutloudofpassages，andnotunfrequentlytheentireletter。Butnow，atthetimeofwhichIamspeaking，GraceCrawleywasattheSmallHouse，andthereforethecommonpracticewassomewhatinabeyance。
OnoneofthefirstdaysofthenewyearJanebroughtinthelettersasusual，andhandedthemtoMrsDale。Lilywasatthetimeoccupiedwiththeteapot，butstillshesawtheletters，andhadnotherhandssofullastobedebarredfromtheexpressionofherusualanxiety。’Mamma，I’msureIseetwothereforme，’shesaid。’Onlyoneforyou，Lily，’saidMrsDale。Lilyinstantlyknewfromthetoneofthevoicethatsomeletterhadcome，whichbytheveryaspectofthehandwritinghaddisturbinghermother。’Thereisoneforyou，mydear，’saidMrsDale，throwingaletteracrossthetableGrace。’Andoneforyou，Lily，fromBell。Theothersareforme。’’Andwhomareyouyoursfrom，mamma？’
askedLily。’OneisfromMrsJones；andtheother，Ithink，isaletteronbusiness。’ThenLilysaidnothingfurther，butsheobservedthathermotheronlyopenedoneofherlettersatthebreakfast—table。Lilywasverypatient；——notbenature，Ithink，butbyexerciseandpractice。Shehad，onceinherlife，beentoomuchinahurry；andhavingthenburnedherselfgrievously，shenowfearedthefire。Shedidnotthereforefollowhermotherafterbreakfast，butsatwithGraceoverthefire，hemmingdiligentlyatcertainarticlesofclothingwhichwereintendedforuseintheHogglestockparsonage。ThetwogirlsweremakingasetofnewshirtsforMrCrawley。’ButIknowhewillaskwheretheycomefrom，’saidGrace；’andthenmammawillbescolded。’’ButIhopehe’llwearthem，’saidLily。’Sooneroflaterhewill，’saidGrace；’becausemammamanagesgenerallytohaveherwayatlast。’Thentheywentonforanhourorso，talkingaboutthehomeaffairsatHogglestock。ButduringthewholetimeLily’smindwasintentuponhermother’sletter。
Nothingwassaidaboutitatlunch，andnothingwhentheywalkedoutafterlunch，forLilywasverypatient。ButduringthewalkMrsDalebecameawarethatherdaughterwasuneasy。Thesetwowatchedeachotherunconsciouslywithaclosenesswhichhardlyallowedaglanceoftheeye，certainlynotatoneofthevoice，topassunobserved。ToMrsDaleitwaseverythingintheworldthatherdaughtershouldbe，ifnothappyatheart，atleasttranquil；andtoLily，whoknewthathermotherwasalwaysthinkingofher，andofheralone，hermotherwastheonlyhumandivinitynowworthyofadoration。Butnothingwassaidabouttheletterduringthewalk。
Whentheycamehomeitwasnearlydusk，anditwastheirhabittositupforawhilewithoutcandles，talking，tilltheeveninghadintruthsetinandtheunmistakableandenforcedidlenessofremainingwithoutcandleswasapparent。Duringthistime，Lily，demandingpatienceofherselfallthewhile，wasthinkingwhatshewoulddo，orratherwhatshewouldsay，abouttheletter。ThatnothingwouldbedoneorsaidinthepresenceofGraceCrawleywasamatterofcourse，norwouldshedoorsayanythingtogetridofGrace。Shewouldbeverypatient；butshewould，atlast，askhermotherabouttheletter。
Andthen，asluckwouldhaveit，GraceCrawleygotupandlefttheroom。
Lilystillwaitedforafewminutes，and，inorderthathepatiencemightbethoroughlyexercised，shesaidawordortwoabouthersisterBell；howtheeldestchild’swhooping—coughwasnearlywell，andhowthebabywasdoingwonderfulthingswithitsfirsttooth。ButasMrsDalehadalreadyseenBell’sletter，allthiswasnotintenselyinteresting。AtlastLilycametothepointandaskedherquestion。
’Mamma，fromwhomwasthatotherletterwhichyougotthismorning？’
OurstorywillperhapsbebesttoldbycommunicatingthelettertothereaderbeforeitwasdiscussedwithLily。Theletterwasasfollows：—
’GENERALCOMMITTEEOFFICE，——January，186—’
IshouldhavesaidthatMrsDalehadnotopenedthelettertillshehadfoundherselfinthesolitudeofherownbedroom；andthatthen，beforedoingso，shehadexaminedthehandwritingwithanxiouseyes。Whenshefirstreceiveditshethoughtsheknewthewriter，butwasnotsure。
Thenshehadglancedattheimpressionoverthefastening，andhadknownatoncefromwhomtheletterhadcome。ItwasfromMrCrosbie，themanwhohadbroughtsomuchtroubleintoherhouse，whohadjiltedherdaughter；theonlymanintheworldwhomshehadarighttoregardasapositiveenemytoherself。Shehadnotdoubtaboutit，asshetoretheenvelopeopen；andyet，whentheaddressgivenmadeherquitesure，anewfeelingofshiveringcameuponher，andsheaskedherselfwhetheritmightnotbebetterthatsheshouldsendhisletterbacktohimwithoutreadingit。Butshereadit。
’MADAM，’theletterbegan——
’Youwillbeverymuchsurprisedtohearfromme，andIamquiteawarethatIamnotentitledtotheordinarycourtesyofanacknowledgementfromyou，shouldyoubepleasedtothrowmyletteronsomesideasunworthyofyournotice。ButIcannotrefrainfromaddressingyou，andmustleaveittoyoutoreplyornot，asyoumaythinkfit。
’Iwillonlyrefertothatepisodeofmylifewithwhichyouareacquainted，forthesakeofacknowledgingmygreatfaultandofassuringyouthatIdidnotgounpunished。Itwouldbeuselessformenowtoattempttoexplaintoyouthecircumstanceswhichledmeintothatdifficultywhichendedinsogreatablunder；butIwillaskyoutobelievethatmyfollywasgreaterthanmysin。
’ButIwillcometomypointatonce。Youare，nodoubt，awarethatImarriedthedaughterofLordDeCourcy，andthatIwasseparatedfrommywifeafewweeksafterourunfortunatemarriage。ItisnowsomethingovertwelvemonthssinceshediedatBaden—
Badeninhermother’shouse。Ineversawhersincethedaywefirstparted。Ihavenotawordtosayagainsther。ThefaultwasmineinmarryingawomanwhomIdidnotloveandhadneverloved。WhenI
marriedLadyAlexandrinaIloved，nother，butyourdaughter。
’IbelieveImayventuretosaytoyouthatyourdaughteroncelovedme。FromthedayonwhichIlastwrotetoyouthatterribleletterwhichtoldyouofmyfate，IhavenevermentionedthenameofLilyDaletohumanears。Ithasbeentoosacredformymouth——toosacredfortheintercourseofanyfriendshipwithwhichIhavebeenblessed。Inowuseitforthefirsttimetoyou，inorderthatImayaskwhetheritbepossiblethatheroldloveshouldeverliveagain。
Minehaslivedalways——hasneverfadedforanhour，makingmemiserableduringthelastyearsthathavepassedsinceIsawher，butcapableofmakingmeveryhappy，ifImaybeallowedtoseeheragain。
’YouwillunderstandmypurposenowaswellasthoughIweretowritepages。Ihavenoschemeformedinmyheadforseeingyourdaughteragain。HowcanI
daretoformascheme，whenIamawarethatthechanceofsuccessmustbesostrongagainstme？Butifyouwilltellmethattherecanbeagleamofhope，Iwillobeyanycommandsthatyoucanputuponmeinanywaythatyoumaypointout。Iamfreeagain——andsheisfree。Iloveherwithallmyheart，andseemtolongfornothingintheworldbutthatsheshouldbecomemywife。Whetheranyofheroldlovemaystillabidewithher，youwillknow。Ifitdo，itmayevenyetprompthertoforgiveone，who，inspiteoffalsenessofconduct，hasyetbeentruetoherinheart。
’Ihavethehonourtobe，Madam，’Yourmostobedientservant，ADOLPHUSCROSBIE。’
ThiswastheletterwhichMrsDalehadreceived，andastowhichshehadnotasyetsaidawordtoLily，orevenmadeuphermindwhethershewouldsayawordornot。Dearlyasthemotheranddaughterlovedeachother，thoroughaswastheconfidencebetweenthem，yetthenameofAdolphusCrosbiehadnotbeenmentionedbetweenthemoftener，perhaps，thanhalf—a—dozentimessincetheblowhadbeenstruck。MrsDaleknewthattheirfeelingsaboutthemanwerealtogetherdifferent。She，herself，notonlycondemnedhimforwhathehaddone，believingittobeimpossiblethatanyshadowofexcusecouldbeurgedforhisoffence，thinkingthatthefaulthadshownthemantobemeanbeyondredemption——butshehadallowedherselfactuallytohatehim。Hehadinonesensemurderedherdaughter，andshebelievedthatshecouldneverforgivehim。But，Lily，ashermotherwellknew，hadforgiventhismanaltogether，hadmadeexcusesforhimwhichcleansedhissinofallitsblacknessinherowneyes，andwastothisdayanxiousaseverforhiswelfareandhishappiness。MrsDalefearedthatLilydidintruthlovehimstill。Ifitwasso，wasshenotboundtoshowherthisletter？Lilywasoldenoughtojudgeforherself——oldenough，andwiseenoughtoo。
MrsDaletoldherselfhalf—a—scoreoftimesthatmorningthatshecouldnotbejustifiedinkeepingtheletterfromherdaughter。
Butyetmuchshewishedthattheletterhadneverbeenwritten，andwouldhavegivenverymuchtobeabletoputitoutofthewaywithoutinjusticetoLily。ToherthinkingitwouldbeimpossiblethatLilyshouldbehappymarryingsuchaman。Suchamarriagenowwouldbe，asMrsDalethought，adegradationtoherdaughter。Aterribleinjuryhadbeendonetoher；butsuchreparationasthiswould，inMrsDale’seyes，onlymaketheinjurydeeper。AndyetLilylovedtheman；and，lovinghim，howcouldsheresistthetemptationofhisoffer？’Mamma，fromwhomwasthatletterwhichyougotthismorning？Lilyasked。ForafewmomentsMrsDaleremainedsilent。’Mamma，’continuedLily，’IthinkI
knowwhomitwasfrom。Ifyoutellmetoasknothingfurther，ofcourseIwillnot。’
’No，Lily；Icannottellyouthat。’
’Then，mamma，outwithitatonce。Whatistheuseofshiveringonthebrink？’
’ItwasfromMrCrosbie。’
’Iknewit。Icannottellyouwhy，butIknewit。Andnow，mamma；——amItoreadit？’
’Youshalldoasyouplease，Lily。’
’ThenIpleasetoreadit。’
’Listentomeamomentfirst。Formyself，Iwishthattheletterhadneverbeenwritten。Ittellsbadlyfortheman，asIthinkofit。I
cannotunderstandhowanymancouldhavebroughthimselftoaddresseitheryouorme，afterhavingactedasheacted。’
’But，mamma，wedifferaboutallthat，youknow。’
’Nowhehaswritten，andthereistheletter——ifyouchoosetoreadit。’
Lilyhaditinherhand，butshestillsatmotionless，holdingit。’Youthink，mamma，Ioughtnottoreadit？’
’Youmustjudgeforyourself，dearest。’
’AndifIdonotreadit，whatshallyoudo，mamma？’
’Ishalldonothing；——or，perhaps，Ishouldinsuchacaseacknowledgeit，andtellhimthatwehavenothingmoretosaytohim。’
’Thatshouldbeverystern。’
’Hehasdonethatwhichmakessomesternnessnecessary。’
ThenLilywasagainsilent，andstillshesatmotionless，withtheletterinherhand。’Mamma，’shesaidatlast，’ifyoutellmenottoreadit，Iwillgiveitbacktoyouunread。Ifyoubidmeexercisemyownjudgment，Ishalltakeitupstairsandreadit。’
’Youmustexerciseyourownjudgment，’saidMrsDale。ThenLilygotupfromherchairandwalkedslowlyoutoftheroom，andwenttohermother’schamber。ThethoughtswhichpassedthroughMrsDale’smindwhileherdaughterwasreadingtheletterwereverysad。Shecouldfindnocomfortanywhere。Lily，shehadtoldherself，wouldsurelygivewaytothisman’srenewedexpressionsofaffection，andshe，MrsDaleherself，wouldbecalledupontogiveherchildtoamanwhomshecouldneitherlovenorrespect；——who，foraughtsheknew，shecouldneverceasetohate。AndshecouldnotbringherselftobelievethatLilycouldbehappywithsuchaman。Asforherownlife，desolateasitwouldbe——shecaredlittleforthat。Mothersknowthattheirdaughterswillleavethem。Evenwidowedmothers，motherswithbutonechildleft——suchaoneaswasthismother———areawarethattheywillbeleftalone，andtheycanbringthemselvestowelcomethesacrificeofthemselveswithsomethingofsatisfaction。MrsDaleandLilyhad，indeed，oflatebecomeboundtogetherespecially，sothatthemotherhadbeenjustifiedinregardingthelinkwhichjoinedthemasbeingfirmerthanthatbywhichmostdaughtersareboundtotheirmothers；——butinallthatshewouldhavefoundnoregret。Evennow，intheseverydays，shewashopingthatLilymightyetbebroughttogiveherselftoJohnEames。Butshecouldnot，afterallthatwascomeandgone，behappyinthinkingthatLilyshouldbegiventoAdolphusCrosbie。
WhenMrsDalewentupstairstoherownroombeforedinnerLilywasnotthere；norweretheyalonetogetheragainthateveningexceptforamoment，whenLily，asusual，wentintohermother’sroomwhenshewasundressing。Butneitherofthemthensaidawordabouttheletter。Lilyduringdinnerandthroughouttheeveninghadborneherselfwell，givingnosignofspecialemotion，keepingtoherselfentirelyherownthoughtsaboutthepropositionmadetoher。AndafterwardsshehadprogresseddiligentlywiththefabricationofMrCrawley’sshirts，asthoughshehadnosuchletterinherpocket。Andyettherewasnotamomentinwhichshewasnotthinkingofit。ToGrace，justbeforeshewenttobed，shedidsayoneword。’Iwonderwhetheritcanevercometoapersontobesoplacedthattherecanbenodoingright，letwhatwillbedone；——that，doornotdo，asyoumay，itmustbewrong？’
’Ihopeyouarenotinsuchacondition，’saidGrace。
’Iamsomethingnearit，’saidLily，’butperhapsifIlooklongenoughIshallseethelight。’
’Ihopethatitwillbeahappylightatlast，’saidGrace，whothoughtthatLilywasreferringonlytoJohnEames。
AtnoononthenextdayLilyhadstillsaidnothingtohermotherabouttheletter；andthenwhatshesaidwasverylittle。’WhenmustyouanswerMrCrosbie，mamma？’
’When，mydear？’
’Imeanhowlongmayyoutake？Itneednotbetoday。’
’No；——certainlynottoday。’
’ThenIwilltalkitoverwithyoutomorrow。Itwantssomethinking；——doesitnot，mamma？’
’Itwouldnotwantmuchwithme，Lily。’
’Butthen，mamma，youarenotI。BelievingasIbelieve，feelingasI
feel，itwantssomethinking。That’swhatImean。’
’IwishIcouldhelpyou，mydear。’
’Youshallhelpme——tomorrow。’ThemorrowcameandLilywasstillverypatient；butshehadpreparedherself，andhadpreparedthetimealso，sothatinthehourofthegloamingshewasalonewithhermother，andsurethatshemightremainalonewithherforanhourorso。’Mamma，sitthere，’shesaid；’Iwillsitdownhere，andthenIcanleanagainstyouandbecomfortable。Youcanbearasmuchofmeasthat——can’tyou，mamma？’ThenMrsDaleputherarmoverLily’sshoulder，andembracedherdaughter。’Andnow，mamma，wewilltalkaboutthiswonderfulletter。’
’Idonotknow，dear，thatIhaveanythingtosayaboutit。’
’Butyoumusthavesomethingtosayaboutit，mamma。Youmustbringyourselftohavesomethingtosay——tohaveagreatdealtosay。’
’YouknowwhatIthinkaswellasthoughItalkedforaweek。’
’Thatwon’tdo，mamma。Come，youmustnotbehardwithme。’
’Hard，Lily！’
’Idon’tmeanthatyouwillhurtme，ornotgivemeanyfood——orthatyouwillnotgooncaringaboutmemorethananythingelseinthewholeworldtentimesover——’AndLilyasshespoke，tightenedtheembraceofhermother’sarmroundherneck。I’mnotafraidyou’llbehardinthatway。Butyoumustsoftenyourheartsoastobeabletomentionhisnameandtalkabouthim，andtellmewhatIoughttodo。Youmustseewithmyeyes，andhearwithmyears，andfeelwithmyheart；——andthen，whenI
knowthatyouhavedonethat，Imustjudgewithyourjudgment。’
’Iwishyoutouseyourown。’
’Yes；——becauseyouwon’tseewithmyeyesandhearwithmyears。That’swhatIcallbeinghard。Thoughyoushouldfeedmewithbloodfromyourbreast，Ishouldcallyouahardpelican，unlessyoucouldgivemealsothesympathywhichIdemandfromyou。Yousee，mamma，wehaveneverallowedourselvestospeakofthisman。’
’Whatneedhastherebeen，dearest？’
’Onlybecausewehavebeenthinkingofhim。Outofthefullheartthemouthspeaketh；——thatis，themouthdoesso，whenthefullheartisallowedtohaveitsowncomfortably。’
’Therearethingswhichshouldbeforgotten。’
’Forgotten，mamma？’
’Thememoryofwhichshouldnotbefosteredbymuchtalking。’
’Ihaveneverblamedyou，mamma；never，eveninmyheart。Ihaveknownhowgoodandgraciousandsweetyouhavebeen。ButIhaveoftenaccusedmyselfofcowardicebecauseIhavenotallowedhisnametocrossmylipseithertoyouortoBell。Totalkofforgettingsuchanaccidentasthatisafarce。Andasforfosteringthememoryofit——！DoyouthinkthatI
haveeverspentanightfromthattimetothiswithoutthinkingofhim？
DoyouimaginethatIhaveevercrossedourownlawn，orgonedownthroughthegarden—paththere，withoutthinkingofthetimeswhenheandIwalkedtheretogether？Thereneedsnofosteringforsuchmemoriesasthose。Theyareweedswhichwillgorankandstrongthoughnothingbedonetofosterthem。Thereistheearthandtherain，andthatisenoughforthem。Youcannotkillthemifyouwould，andtheycertainlywillnotdiebecauseyouarecarefulnottohoeandraketheground。
’Lily，youforgethowshortthetimehasbeenasyet。’
’Ihavethoughtitverylong；butthetruthis，mamma，thatthisnon—fosteringofmemories，asyoucallit，hasnotbeentherealcauseofoursilence。WehavenotspokenofMrCrosbiebecausewehavenotthoughtalikeabouthim。Hadyouspokenyouwouldhavespokenwithanger，andIcouldnotenduretohearhimabused。Thathasbeenit。’
’Partlyso，Lily。’
’Nowyoumusttalkofhim，andyoumustnotabusehim。Wemusttalkofhim，becausesomethingmustbedoneabouthisletter。Evenitbeleftunanswered，itcannotbesoleftwithoutdiscussion。Andyetyoumustsaynoevilofhim。’
’AmItothinkhebehavedwell？’
’No，mamma；youarenottothinkthat；butyouaretolookuponhisfaultasafaultthathasbeenforgiven。’
’Itcannotbeforgiven，dear。’
’But，mamma，whenyougotoheaven——’
’Mydear！’
’Butyouwillgotoheaven，mamma，andwhyshouldInotspeakofit？
Youwillgotoheaven，andyetIsupposeyouhavebeenverywicked，becauseweareallverywicked。Butyouwon’tbetoldofyourwickednessthere。Youwon’tbehatedthere，becauseyouwerethisorthatwhenyouwerehere。’
’Ihopenot，Lily；butisn’tyourargumentalmostprofane？’
’No；Idon’tthinkso。Weasktobeforgivenjustasweforgive。Thatisthewayinwhichwehopetobeforgiven，andthereforeitisthewayinwhichweoughttoforgive。Whenyousaythatprayeratnight，mamma，doyoueveraskyourselfwhetheryouhaveforgivenhim？’
’Iforgivehimasfarashumanitycanforgive。Iwoulddohimnoinjury。’
’ButifyouandIareforgivenonlyafterthatfashionweshallnevergettoheaven。’Lilypausedforsomefurtheranswerfromhermother，butasMrsDalewassilentsheallowedthatportionofthesubjecttopassascompleted。’Andnow，mamma，whatanswerdoyouthinkweoughttosendtohisletter？’
’Mydear，howamItosay？YouknowIhavesaidalreadythatifIcouldactonmyownjudgment，Iwouldsendnone。’
’Butthatwassaidinthebitternessofgall。’
’Come，Lily，saywhatyouthinkyourself。Weshallgetonbetterwhenyouhavebroughtyourselftospeak。Doyouthinkthatyouwishtoseehimagain？’
’Idon’tknow，mamma。Uponthewhole，Ithinknot。’
’Theninheaven’sname，letmewriteandtellhimso。’
’Stopamoment，mamma。Therearetwopersonsheretobeconsidered——orrather，three。’
’Iwouldnothaveyouthinkofmeinsuchaquestion。’
’Iknowyouwouldnot；butnevermind，andletmegoon。Thethreeofusareconcerned，atanyrate；you，he，andI。Iamthinkingofhimnow。
Wehaveallsuffered，butIdobelievethathithertohehashadtheworstofit。’
’Andwhohaddeservedtheworst？’
’Mamma，howcanyougobackinthatway？Wehaveagreedthatthatshouldberegardedasdoneandgone。Hehasbeenveryunhappy，andnowweseewhatremedyheproposestohimselfforhismisery。DoIflattermyselfifIallowmyselftolookatitinthatway？’