’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？’