d to you I did not
know you properly. I thought you were quite different from what
you are. I thought that underneath all your nice wildness, and
so on, there was a very solid person. And I hinted that, you
will remember, in my first letter, which I suppose you have
received just before this. And now I simply can't think that
any longer.

"I don't in the least blame you for being what you are: that's
not my business. But I must just say this--that a man who can
do what you've done, not only for a week or two, as I thought
at first, as a sort of game, but for nearly three months, and
during that time could leave me with only three or four
postcards and no news; above all, a man who could get into
such disgrace and trouble, and actually go to prison, and yet
not seem to mind much--well, it isn't what I had thought of
you.

"You see, there are a whole lot of things together. It isn't
just this or that, but the whole thing.

"First you became a Catholic, without telling me anything until
just before. I didn't like that, naturally, but I didn't say
anything. It isn't nice for a husband and wife to be of
different religions. Then you ran away from Cambridge; then you
got mixed up with this man you speak of in your letter to Jack;
and you must have been rather fond of him, you know, to go to
prison for him, as I suppose you did. And yet, after all that,
I expect you've gone to meet him again in York. And then
there's the undeniable fact of prison.

"You see, it's all these things together--one after another. I
have defended you to your father again and again; I haven't
allowed anybody to abuse you without standing up for you; but
it really has gone too far. You know I did half warn you in
that other letter. I know you couldn't have got it till just
now, but that wasn't my fault; and the letter shows what I was
thinking, even three months ago.

"Don't be too angry with me, Frank. I'm very fond of you still,
and I shall always stand up for you when I can. And please
don't answer this in any way. Jack Kirkby isn't answering just
yet. I asked him not, though he doesn't know why.

"Your father is going to send the news that the engagement is
broken off to the newspapers.

"Yours sincerely,