Clara Hopgood

'DEAR MADAM,--Your note has reached me here. I am very sorry that my

engagements are so pressing that I cannot leave Germany at present.

I have written to Miss Hopgood. There is one subject which I cannot

mention to her--I cannot speak to her about money. Will you please

give me full information? I enclose 20 pounds, and I must trust to your

discretion. I thank you heartily for all your kindness.--Truly yours, 'FRANK PALMER.'

'MY DEAREST MADGE,--I cannot help saying one more word to you,

although, when I last saw you, you told me that it was useless for me

to hope. I know, however, that there is now another bond between us,

the child is mine as well as yours, and if I am not all that you

deserve, ought you to prevent me from doing my duty to it as well as

to you? It is true that if we were to marry I could never right you,

and perhaps my father would have nothing to do with us, but in time

he might relent, and I will come over at once, or, at least, the

moment I have settled some business here, and you shall be my wife.

Do, my dearest Madge, consent.'

When he came to this point his pen stopped. What he had written was

very smooth, but very tame and cold. However, nothing better

presented itself; he changed his position, sat back in his chair, and

searched himself, but could find nothing. It was not always so.

Some months ago there would have been no difficulty, and he would not

have known when to come to an end. The same thing would have been

said a dozen times, perhaps, but it would not have seemed the same to

him, and each succeeding repetition would have been felt with the

force of novelty. He took a scrap of paper and tried to draft two or

three sentences, altered them several times and made them worse. He

then re-read the letter; it was too short; but after all it contained

what was necessary, and it must go as it stood. She knew how he felt

towards her. So he signed it after giving his address at Hamburg,

and it was posted.

Three or four days afterwards Mrs Marshall, in accordance with her

usual custom, went to see Madge before she was up. The child lay

peacefully by its mother's side and Frank's letter was upon the

counterpane. The resolution that no letter from him should be opened

had been broken. The two women had become great friends and, within

the last few weeks, Madge had compelled Mrs Marshall to call her by

her Christian name.