CHAPTERVIII。
THEMINISTERSAYSGOOD—BY。
THECapitalPunishmentofthePrisonerisinnorespectconnectedwithmypurposeinwritingthepresentnarrative。NeitherdoI
desiretodarkenthesepagesbydescribingindetailanactofrighteousretributionwhichmustpresent，bythenatureofit，asceneofhorror。ForthesereasonsIasktobeexcused，ifI
limitwhatImustneedssayoftheexecutionwithinthecompassofafewwords——andpasson。
Theoneself—possessedpersonamonguswasthemiserablewomanwhosufferedthepenaltyofdeath。
Notverydiscreetly，asIthink，theChaplainaskedherifshehadtrulyrepented。Sheanswered："Ihaveconfessedthecrime，sir。Whatmoredoyouwant？"Tomymind——stillhesitatingbetweentheviewthatbelieveswiththeMinister，andtheviewthatdoubtswiththeDoctor——thisreplyleavesawayopentohopeofhersalvation。Herlastwordstome，asshemountedthestepsofthescaffold，were："Rememberyourpromise。"Itwaseasyformetobetruetomyword。Atthatbygonetime，nodifficultieswereplacedinmywaybysuchprecautionsasarenowobservedintheconductofexecutionswithinthewallsoftheprison。Fromthetimeofherdeathtothetimeofherburial，nolivingcreaturesawherface。Sherests，veiledinherprisongrave。
Letmenowturntolivinginterests，andtoscenesremovedfromthethunder—cloudsofcrime。
OnthenextdayIreceivedavisitfromtheMinister。
Hisfirstwordsentreatedmenottoalludetotheterribleeventofthepreviousday。"Icannotescapethinkingofit，"hesaid，"butImayavoidspeakingofit。"Thisseemedtometobethemisplacedconfidenceofaweakmanintherefugeofsilence。Bywayofchangingthesubject，Ispokeofthechild。Therewouldbeseriousdifficultiestocontendwith（asIventuredtosuggest），ifheremainedinthetown，andallowedhisnewresponsibilitiestobecomethesubjectofpublictalk。
Hisreplytothisagreeablysurprisedme。Therewerenodifficultiestobefeared。
Thestateofhiswife’shealthhadobligedhim（actingundermedicaladvice）totrytheinfluenceofhernativeair。Anintervalofsomemonthsmightelapsebeforethegoodeffectofthechangehadsufficientlydeclareditself；andareturntothepeculiarclimateofthetownmightbringonarelapse。Therehadconsequentlybeennoalternativetobutresignhischarge。Onlyonthatdaytheresignationhadbeenaccepted——withexpressionsofregretsincerelyreciprocatedbyhimself。Heproposedtoleavethetownimmediately；andoneoftheobjectsofhisvisitwastobidmegood—by。
"ThenextplaceIlivein，"hesaid，"willbemorethanahundredmilesaway。AtthatdistanceImayhopetokeepeventsconcealedwhichmustbeknownonlytoourselves。SofarasIcansee，therearenorisksofdiscoverylurkinginthisplace。Myservants（onlytwoinnumber）havebothbeenbornhere，andhavebothtoldmywifethattheyhavenowishtogoaway。AstothepersonwhointroducedherselftomebythenameofMissChance，shewastracedtotherailwaystationyesterdayafternoon，andtookherticketforLondon。"
IcongratulatedtheMinisteronthegoodfortunewhichhadbefriendedhim，sofar。
"YouwillunderstandhowcarefullyIhaveprovidedagainstbeingdeceived，"hecontinued，"whenItellyouwhatmyplansare。Thepersonsamongwhommyfuturelotiscast——andthechildherself，ofcourse——mustneversuspectthatthenewmemberofmyfamilyisotherthanmyowndaughter。Thisisdeceit，Iadmit；butitisdeceitthatinjuresnoone。Ihopeyouseethenecessityforit，asIdo。"
Therecouldbenodoubtofthenecessity。
Ifthechildwasdescribedasadopted，therewouldbecuriosityaboutthecircumstances，andinquiriesrelatingtotheparents。
Prevaricatingrepliesleadtosuspicion，andsuspiciontodiscovery。ButforthewisecoursewhichtheMinisterhaddecidedontaking，thepoorchild’slifemighthavebeendarkenedbythehorrorofthemother’scrime，andtheinfamyofthemother’sdeath。
Havingquietedmyfriend’sneedlessscruplesbythisperfectlysincereexpressionofopinion，Iventuredtoapproachthecentralfigureinhisdomesticcircle，bymeansofaquestionrelatingtohiswife。Howhadthatladyreceivedtheunfortunatelittlecreature，forwhoseappearanceonthehome—sceneshemusthavebeenentirelyunprepared？
TheMinister’smannershowedsomeembarrassment；heprefacedwhathehadtotellmewithpraisesofhiswife，equallycreditablenodoubttobothofthem。Thebeautyofthechild，theprettywaysofthechild，hesaid，fascinatedtheadmirablewomanatfirstsight。Itwasnottobedeniedthatshehadfelt，andhadexpressed，misgivings，onbeinginformedofthecircumstancesunderwhichtheMinister’sactofmercyhadbeenperformed。Buthermindwastoowellbalancedtoinclinetothisstateoffeeling，whenherhusbandhadaddressedherindefenseofhisconduct。Shethenunderstoodthatthetruemeritofagoodactionconsistedinpatientlyfacingthesacrificesinvolved。Herinterestinthenewdaughterbeing，inthisway，ennobledbyasenseofChristianduty，therehadbeennofurtherdifferenceofopinionbetweenthemarriedpair。
Ilistenedtothisplausibleexplanationwithinterest，but，atthesametime，withdoubtsofthelastingnatureofthelady’ssubmissiontocircumstances；suggested，perhaps，bytheconstraintintheMinister’smanner。Itwaswellforbothofuswhenwechangedthesubject。HeremindedmeofthediscouragingviewwhichtheDoctorhadtakenoftheprospectbeforehim。
"Iwillnotattempttodecidewhetheryourfriendisrightorwrong，"hesaid。"Trusting，asIdo，inthemercyofGod，Ilookhopefullytoafuturetimewhenallthatisbrightestandbestinthenatureofmyadoptedchildwillbedevelopedundermyfosteringcare。Ifeviltendenciesshowthemselves，myreliancewillbeconfidentlyplacedonpiousexample，onreligiousinstruction，and，aboveall，onintercessionbyprayer。Repeattoyourfriend，"heconcluded，"whatyouhavejustheardmesay。Lethimaskhimselfifhecouldconfronttheuncertainfuturewithmycheerfulsubmissionandmysteadfasthope。"
Heintrustedmewiththatmessage，andgavemehishand。Soweparted。
Iagreedwithhim，Iadmiredhim；butmyfaithseemedtowantsustainingpower，ascomparedwithhisfaith。Onhisownshowing（asitappearedtome），therewouldbetwoforcesinastateofconflictinthechild’snatureasshegrewup——inheritedevilagainstinculcatedgood。TryasImight，IfailedtofeeltheMinister’scomfortingconvictionastowhichofthetwowouldwin。
CHAPTERIX。
THEGOVERNORRECEIVESAVISIT。
AFEWdaysafterthegoodmanhadleftus，Imetwithaseriousaccident，causedbyafalsesteponthestonestairsoftheprison。
Thelongillnesswhichfollowedthismisfortune，andmyremovalafterward（intheinterestsofmyrecovery）toamilderclimatethantheclimateofEngland，obligedmetoconfidethedutiesofgovernoroftheprisontoarepresentative。Iwasabsentfrommypostforrathermorethanayear。Duringthisintervalnonewsreachedmefrommyreverendfriend。
Havingreturnedtothedutiesofmyoffice，IthoughtofwritingtotheMinister。Whiletheproposedletterwasstillincontemplation，Iwasinformedthataladywishedtoseeme。Shesentinhercard。MyvisitorprovedtobetheMinister’swife。
Iobservedherwithnoordinaryattentionwhensheenteredtheroom。
Herdresswassimple；herscantylighthair，sofarasIcouldseeitunderherbonnet，wasdressedwithtaste。Thepalenessofherlips，andthefadedcolorinherface，suggestedthatshewascertainlynotingoodhealth。Twopeculiaritiesstruckmeinherpersonalappearance。Ineverrememberedhavingseenanyotherpersonwithsuchasingularlynarrowandslantingforeheadasthisladypresented；andIwasimpressed，notatallagreeably，bytheflashingshiftingexpressioninhereyes。Ontheotherhand，letmeownthatIwaspowerfullyattractedandinterestedbythebeautyofhervoice。Itsfinevarietyofcompass，anditsmusicalresonanceoftone，fellwithsuchenchantmentontheear，thatIshouldhavelikedtoputabookofpoetryintoherhand，andtohaveheardherreaditinsummer—time，accompaniedbythemusicofarockystream。
Theobjectofhervisit——sofarassheexplaineditattheoutset——appearedtobetoofferhercongratulationsonmyrecovery，andtotellmethatherhusbandhadassumedthechargeofachurchinalargetownnotfarfromherbirthplace。
Eventhosecommonplacewordsweremadeinterestingbyherdeliciousvoice。Buthoweversensitivetosweetsoundsamanmaybe，therearelimitstohiscapacityfordeceivinghimself——especiallywhenhehappenstobeenlightenedbyexperienceofhumanitywithinthewallsofaprison。Ihad，itmayberemembered，alreadydoubtedthelady’sgoodtemper，judgingfromherhusband’sover—wroughtdescriptionofhervirtues。Hereyeslookedatmefurtively；andhermanner，gracefullyself—possessedasitwas，suggestedthatshehadsomethingofadelicate，ordisagreeable，naturetosaytome，andthatshewasatalosshowtoapproachthesubjectsoastoproducetherightimpressiononmymindattheoutset。Therewasamomentarysilencebetweenus。Forthesakeofsayingsomething，IaskedhowsheandtheMinisterlikedtheirnewplaceofresidence。
"Ournewplaceofresidence，"sheanswered，"hasbeenmadeinterestingbyaveryunexpectedevent——anevent（howshallI
describeit？）whichhasincreasedourhappinessandenlargedourfamilycircle。"
Thereshestopped：expectingme，asIfancied，toguesswhatshemeant。Awoman，andthatwomanamother，mighthavefulfilledheranticipations。Aman，andthatmannotlisteningattentively，wassimplypuzzled。
"Prayexcusemystupidity，"Isaid；"Idon’tquiteunderstandyou。"
Thelady’stemperlookedatmeoutofthelady’sshiftingeyes，andhiditselfagaininamoment。Shesetherselfrightinmyestimationbytakingthewholeblameofourlittlemisunderstandingonherowninnocentshoulders。
"Ioughttohavespokenmoreplainly，"shesaid。"LetmetrywhatIcandonow。Aftermanyyearsofdisappointmentinmymarriedlife，ithaspleasedProvidencetobestowonmethehappiness——theinexpressiblehappiness——ofbeingamother。Mybabyisasweetlittlegirl；andmyoneregretisthatIcannotnursehermyself。"
MylanguidinterestintheMinister’swifewasnotstimulatedbytheannouncementofthisdomesticevent。
Ifeltnowishtoseethe"sweetlittlegirl"；Iwasnotevenremindedofanotherexampleoflong—deferredmaternity，whichhadoccurredwithinthelimitsofmyownfamilycircle。Allmysympathiesattachedthemselvestothesadlittlefigureoftheadoptedchild。Irememberedthepoorbabyonmyknee，enchantedbythetickingofmywatch——Ithoughtofher，peacefullyandprettilyasleepunderthehorridshelterofthecondemnedcell——anditishardlytoomuchtosaythatmyheartwasheavy，whenIcomparedherprospectswiththeprospectsofherbaby—rival。Kindashewas，conscientiousashewas，couldtheMinisterbeexpectedtoadmittoanequalshareinhislovethechildendearedtohimasafather，andthechildwhomerelyremindedhimofanactofmercy？Asforhiswife，itseemedthemerestwasteoftimetoputherstateoffeeling（placedbetweenthetwochildren）tothetestofinquiry。Itriedtheuselessexperiment，nevertheless。
"Itispleasanttothink，"Ibegan，"thatyourotherdaughter——"
Sheinterruptedme，withtheutmostgentleness："Doyoumeanthechildthatmyhusbandwasfoolishenoughtoadopt？"
"Sayratherfortunateenoughtoadopt，"Ipersisted。"Asyourownlittlegirlgrowsup，shewillwantaplayfellow。Andshewillfindaplayfellowinthatotherchild，whomthegoodMinisterhastakenforhisown。"
"No，mydearsir——notifIcanpreventit。"
Thecontrastbetweenthecrueltyofherintention，andthemusicalbeautyofthevoicewhichpolitelyexpresseditinthosewords，reallystartledme。Iwasatalosshowtoanswerher，attheverytimewhenIoughttohavebeenmostreadytospeak。
"Youmustsurelyunderstand，"shewenton，"thatwedon’twantanotherperson’schild，nowwehavealittledarlingofourown？"
"Doesyourhusbandagreewithyouinthatview？"Iasked。
"Ohdear，no！Hesaidwhatyousaidjustnow，and（oddlyenough）
almostinthesamewords。ButIdon’tatalldespairofpersuadinghimtochangehismind——andyoucanhelpme。"
Shemadethataudaciousassertionwithsuchanappearanceoffeelingperfectlysureofme，thatmypolitenessgavewayunderthestrainlaidonit。"Whatdoyoumean？"Iaskedsharply。
Notintheleastimpressedbymychangeofmanner，shetookfromthepocketofherdressaprintedpaper。"YouwillfindwhatI
meanthere，"shereplied——andputthepaperintomyhand。
Itwasanappealtothecharitablepublic，occasionedbytheenlargementofanorphan—asylum，withwhichIhadbeenconnectedformanyyears。Whatshemeantwasplainenoughnow。Isaidnothing：Ionlylookedather。
PleasedtofindthatIwascleverenoughtoguesswhatshemeant，onthisoccasion，theMinister’swifeinformedmethatthecircumstanceswereallinourfavor。Shestillpersistedintakingmeintopartnership——thecircumstanceswerein_our_
favor。
"Intwoyearsmore，"sheexplained，"thechildofthatdetestablecreaturewhowashanged——doyouknow，Icannotevenlookatthelittlewretchwithoutthinkingofthegallows？——willbeoldenough（withyourinteresttohelpus）tobereceivedintotheasylum。Whatareliefitwillbetogetridofthatchild！AndhowhardIshallworkatcanvassingforsubscribers’votes！YournamewillbeatowerofstrengthwhenIuseitasareference。
Pardonme——youarenotlookingsopleasantlyasusual。Doyouseesomeobstaclesinourway？"
"Iseetwoobstacles。"
"Whatcantheypossiblybe？"
Forthesecondtime，mypolitenessgavewayunderthestrainlaidonit。"Youknowperfectlywell，"Isaid，"whatoneoftheobstaclesis。"
"AmItounderstandthatyoucontemplateanyseriousresistanceonthepartofmyhusband？"
"Certainly！"
Shewasunaffectedlyamusedbymysimplicity。
"Areyouasingleman？"sheasked。
"Iamawidower。"
"ThenyourexperienceoughttotellyouthatIknoweveryweakpointintheMinister’scharacter。Icantellhim，onyourauthority，thatthehatefulchildwillbeplacedincompetentandkindlyhands——andIhavemyownsweetbabytopleadforme。Withtheseadvantagesinmyfavor，doyouactuallysupposeIcanfailtomake_my_wayofthinking_his_wayofthinking？Youmusthaveforgottenyourownmarriedlife！Supposewegoontothesecondofyourtwoobstacles。Ihopeitwillbebetterworthconsideringthanthefirst。"
"Thesecondobstaclewillnotdisappointyou，"Ianswered；"Iamtheobstacle，thistime。"
"Yourefusetohelpme？"
"Positively。"
"Perhapsreflectionmayalteryourresolution？"
"Reflectionwilldonothingofthekind。"
"Youarerude，sir！"
"Inspeakingtoyou，madam，Ihavenoalternativebuttospeakplainly。"
Sherose。Hershiftingeyes，foronce，lookedatmesteadily。
"WhatsortofenemyhaveImadeofyou？"sheasked。"Apassiveenemywhoiscontentwithrefusingtohelpme？Oranactiveenemywhowillwritetomyhusband？"
"Itdependsentirely，"Itoldher，"onwhatyourhusbanddoes。Ifhequestionsmeaboutyou，Ishalltellhimthetruth。"
"Andifnot？"
"Inthatcase，Ishallhopetoforgetthatyoueverfavoredmewithavisit。"
InmakingthisreplyIwasguiltlessofanymaliciousintention。
Whatevilinterpretationsheplacedonmywordsitisimpossibleformetosay；Icanonlydeclarethatsomeintolerablesenseofinjuryhurriedherintoanoutbreakofrage。Hervoice，strainedforthefirsttime，lostitstunefulbeautyoftone。
"Comeandseeusintwoyears’time，"sheburstout——"anddiscovertheorphanofthegallowsinourhouseifyoucan！IfyourAsylumwon’ttakeher，someotherCharitywill。Ha，Mr。
Governor，Ideservemydisappointment！Ioughttohaverememberedthatyouareonlyajailerafterall。Andwhatisajailer？
Proverbiallyabrute。Doyouhearthat？Abrute！"
Herstrengthsuddenlyfailedher。Shedroppedbackintothechairfromwhichshehadrisen，withafaintcryofpain。Aghastlypallorstoleoverherface。Therewaswineonthesideboard；I
filledaglass。Sherefusedtotakeit。Atthattimeintheday，theDoctor’sdutiesrequiredhisattendanceintheprison。I
instantlysentforhim。Afteramoment’slookather，hetookthewineoutofmyhand，andheldtheglasstoherlips。
"Drinkit，"hesaid。Shestillrefused。"Drinkit，"hereiterated，"oryouwilldie。"
Thatfrightenedher；shedrankthewine。TheDoctorwaitedforawhilewithhisfingersonherpulse。"Shewilldonow，"hesaid。
"CanIgo？"sheasked。
"Gowhereveryouplease，madam——solongasyoudon’tgoupstairsinahurry。"
Shesmiled："Iunderstandyou，sir——andthankyouforyouradvice。"
IaskedtheDoctor，whenwewerealone，whatmadehimtellhernottogoupstairsinahurry。
"WhatIfelt，"heanswered，"whenIhadmyfingersonherpulse。
Youheardhersaythatsheunderstoodme。"
"Yes；butIdon’tknowwhatshemeant。"
"Shemeant，probably，thatherowndoctorhadwarnedherasI
did。"
"Somethingseriouslywrongwithherhealth？"
"Yes。"
"Whatisit？"
"Heart。"
CHAPTERX。
MISSCHANCEREAPPEARS。
AWEEKhadpassed，sincetheMinister’swifehadleftme，whenI
receivedaletterfromtheMinisterhimself。
Aftersurprisingme，asheinnocentlysupposed，byannouncingthebirthofhischild，hementionedsomecircumstancesconnectedwiththatevent，whichInowheardforthefirsttime。
"Withinaneasyjourneyofthepopuloussceneofmypresentlabors，"hewrote，"thereisasecludedcountryvillagecalledLowLanes。Therectoroftheplaceismywife’sbrother。Beforethebirthofourinfant，hehadaskedhissistertostayforawhileathishouse；andthedoctorthoughtshemightsafelybeallowedtoaccepttheinvitation。Throughsomeerrorinthecustomarycalculations，asIsuppose，thechildwasbornunexpectedlyattherectory；andtheceremonyofbaptismwasperformedatthechurch，undercircumstanceswhichIamnotabletorelatewithinthelimitsofaletter：LetmeonlysaythatI
alludetothisincidentwithoutanysectarianbitternessoffeeling——forIamnoenemytotheChurchofEngland。Youhavenoideawhattreasuresofvirtueandtreasuresofbeautymaternityhasrevealedinmywife’ssweetnature。Othermothers，inherproudposition，mightfindtheirlovecoolingtowardthepoorchildwhomwehaveadopted。Butmyhouseholdisirradiatedbythepresenceofanangel，whogivesanequalshareinheraffectionstothetwolittleonesalike。"
Inthissemi—hystericalstyleofwriting，thepoormanunconsciouslytoldmehowcunninglyandhowcruellyhiswifewasdeceivinghim。
Ilongedtoexhibitthatwickedwomaninhertruecharacter——butwhatcouldIdo？Shemusthavebeensofavoredbycircumstancesastobeabletoaccountforherabsencefromhome，withoutexcitingtheslightestsuspicionofthejourneywhichshehadreallytaken，ifIdeclaredinmyreplytotheMinister’sletterthatIhadreceivedherinmyrooms，andifIrepeatedtheconversationthathadtakenplace，whatwouldtheresultbe？Shewouldfindaneasyrefugeinpositivedenialofthetruth——and，inthatcase，whichofuswouldherinfatuatedhusbandbelieve？
TheonepartoftheletterwhichIreadwithsomesatisfactionwastheendofit。
IwashereinformedthattheMinister’splansforconcealingtheparentageofhisadopteddaughterhadprovedtobeentirelysuccessful。Themembersofthenewdomestichouseholdbelievedthetwochildrentobeinfant—sisters。Neitherwasthereanydangeroftheadoptedchildbeingidentified（astheoldestchildofthetwo）byconsultationoftheregisters。
Beforeheleftourtown，theMinisterhadseenforhimselfthatnobaptismalnamehadbeenadded，afterthebirthofthedaughterofthemurderesshadbeenregistered，andthatnoentryofbaptismexistedintheregisterskeptinplacesofworship。Hedrewtheinference——inallprobabilityatrueinference，consideringthecharactersoftheparents——thatthechildhadneverbeenbaptized；andheperformedtheceremonyprivately，abstaining，forobviousreasons，fromaddingherChristiannametotheimperfectregisterofherbirth。"Iamnotaware，"hewrote，"whetherIhave，orhavenot，committedanoffenseagainsttheLaw。Inanycase，ImayhopetohavemadeatonementbyobediencetotheGospel。"
Sixweekspassed，andIheardfrommyreverendfriendoncemore。
Hissecondletterpresentedamarkedcontrasttothefirst。Itwaswritteninsorrowandanxiety，toinformmeofanalarmingchangefortheworseinhiswife’shealth。Ishowedthelettertomymedicalcolleague。Afterreadingithepredictedtheeventthatmightbeexpected，intwowords：——Suddendeath。
OnthenextoccasionwhenIheardfromtheMinister，theDoctor’sgrimreplyprovedtobeaprophecyfulfilled。
Whenweaddressexpressionsofcondolencetobereavedfriends，theprinciplesofpopularhypocrisysanctionindiscriminatelyingasadutywhichweowetothedead——nomatterwhattheirlivesmayhavebeen——becausetheyaredead。Withinmyownlittlesphere，Ihavealwaysbeensilent，whenIcouldnotoffertoafflictedpersonsexpressionsofsympathywhichIhonestlyfelt。
TohavecondoledwiththeMinisteronthelossthathehadsustainedbythedeathofawoman，self—betrayedtomeasshamelesslydeceitful，andpitilesslydeterminedtoreachherowncruelends，wouldhavebeentodegrademyselfbytellingadeliberatelie。Iexpressedinmyanswerallthatanhonestmannaturallyfeels，whenheiswritingtoafriendindistress；
carefullyabstainingfromanyallusiontothememoryofhiswife，ortotheplacewhichherdeathhadleftvacantinhishousehold。
Myletter，Iamsorrytosay，disappointedandoffendedhim。Hewrotetomenomore，untilyearshadpassed，andtimehadexerteditsinfluenceinproducingamoreindulgentframeofmind。Theselettersofalaterdatehavebeenpreserved，andwillprobablybeused，attherighttime，forpurposesofexplanationwithwhichI
maybeconnectedinthefuture。
ThecorrespondentwhomIhadnowlostwassucceededbyagentlemanentirelyunknowntome。
Thosereasonswhichinducedmetoconcealthenamesofpersons，whileIwasrelatingeventsintheprison，donotapplytocorrespondencewithastrangerwritingfromanotherplace。Imay，therefore，mentionthatMr。Dunboyne，ofFairmount，onthewestcoastofIreland，wasthewriteroftheletternowaddressedtome。Heproved，tomysurprise，tobeoneoftherelationswhomthePrisonerundersentenceofdeathhadnotcaredtosee，whenI
offeredhertheopportunityofsayingfarewell。Mr。Dunboynewasabrother—in—lawofthemurderess。Hehadmarriedhersister。
Hiswife，heinformedme，haddiedinchildbirth，leavinghimbutoneconsolation——aboy，whoalreadyrecalledallthatwasbrightestandbestinhislostmother。Thefatherwasnaturallyanxiousthatthesonshouldneverbecomeacquaintedwiththedisgracethathadbefallenthefamily。
Theletterthenproceededintheseterms：
"Iheardyesterday，forthefirsttime，bymeansofanoldnewspaper—cuttingsenttomebyafriend，thatthemiserablewomanwhosufferedtheignominyofpublicexecutionhasleftaninfantchild。Canyoutellmewhathasbecomeoftheorphan？Ifthislittlegirlis，asIfear，notwellprovidedfor，Ionlydowhatmywifewouldhavedoneifshehadlived，byofferingtomakethechild’swelfaremyespecialcare。Iamwillingtoplaceherinanestablishmentwellknowntome，inwhichshewillbekindlytreated，welleducated，andfittedtoearnherownlivinghonorablyinlaterlife。
"Ifyoufeelsomesurpriseatfindingthatmygoodintentionstowardthisill—fatednieceofminedonotgotothelengthofreceivingherasamemberofmyownfamily，Ibegtosubmitsomeconsiderationswhichmayperhapsweighwithyouastheyhaveweighedwithme。
"Inthefirstplace，thereisatleastapossibility——howevercarefullyImighttrytoconcealit——thatthechild’sparentagewouldsoonerorlaterbediscovered。Inthesecondplace（andassumingthattheparentagehadbeensuccessfullyconcealed），ifthisgirlandmyboygrewuptogether，thereisanotherpossibilitytobereckonedwith：theymightbecomeattachedtoeachother。Doesthefatherlivewhowouldallowhissonignorantlytomarrythedaughterofaconvictedmurderess？I