n dropped it on her neck
and left the room. He was soon hurrying on his way to the Dolphin: midway
he stopped. "There may be a bad shot in Bella's letter," he thought.
Shop-lights were ahead: a very luminous chemist sent a green ray into the
darkness. Wilfrid fixed himself under it. "Confoundedly appropriate for a
man reading that his wife has run away from him!" he muttered, and hard
quickly plunged into matter quite as absorbing. When he had finished it
he shivered. Thus it ran:

"My beloved brother,

"I bring myself to plain words. Happy those who can trifle with human
language! Papa has at last taken us into his confidence. He has not
spoken distinctly; he did us the credit to see that it was not necessary.
If in our abyss of grief we loss delicacy, what is left?--what!

"The step he desired to take, Which We Opposed, he has anticipated, And
Must Consummate.

"Oh, Wilfrid! you see it, do you not? You comprehend me I am surf! I
should have said 'had anticipated.' How to convey to you! (but it would
be unjust to him--to ourselves--were I to say emphatically what I have
not yet a right to think). What I have hinted above is, after all;
nothing but Cornelia's conjecture, I wish I could not say confirmed by
mine. We sat with Papa two hours before any idea of his meaning dawned
upon us. He first scolded us. We both saw from this that more was to
come.

"I hope there are not many in this world to whom the thought of honour
being tied to money ever appears possible. If it is so there is wide
suffering--deep, for it, must be silent. Cornelia suggests one comfort
for them that they will think less of poverty.

"Why was Brookfield ever bought? Our old peaceful City-life--the vacant
Sundays!--my ears are haunted by their bells for Evening Service. I said
'There they go, the dowdy population of heaven!' I remember it now. It
should be almost punishment enough to be certain that of all those people
going to church, there cannot be one more miserable than we who stood at
the old window ridiculing them. They at least do not feel that everything
they hope for in human life is dependent upon one human will--the will of
a mortal weather-vane! It is the case, and it must be conciliated. There
is no half-measure--no choice. Feel that nothing you have ever dreamed of
can be a disgrace if it is undergone to forestall what positively
impends, and act immediately. I shall expect to see you in three days.
She is to have the South-west