no alternative.
The fact that your brother has quarrelled with me cannot
be concealed from you, and I must not leave him to tell
you of the manner of it. He came to me yesterday in great
anger. His anger then was nothing to what it became
afterwards; but even when he first came in he was full of
wrath. He stood up before me, and asked me how it had come
to pass that I had sent him the money which he had asked
of me through the hands of Mr Grey. Of course I had not
done this, and so I told him at once. I had spoken of
the matter to no one but papa, and he had managed it for
me. Even now I know nothing of it, and as I have not yet
spoken to papa I cannot understand it. George at once told
me that he disbelieved me, and when I sat quiet under
this insult, he used harsher words, and said that I had
conspired to lower him before the world.

He then asked me whether I loved him. Oh, Kate, I must
tell it you all, though it is dreadful to me that I should
have to write it. You remember how it came to pass when we
were in Westmoreland together at Christmas? Do not think
that I am blaming you, but I was very rash then in the
answers which I made to him. I thought that I could be
useful to him as his wife, and I had told myself that it
would be good that I should be of use in some way. When
he asked me that question yesterday, I sat silent. Indeed,
how could I have answered it in the affirmative, when he
had just used such language to me,--while he was standing
opposite to me, looking at me in that way which he has
when he is enraged? Then he spoke again and demanded of me
that I should at once send back to Mr Grey all presents
of his which I had kept, and at the same time took up and
threw across the table on to the sofa near me, a little
paper knife which Mr Grey once gave me. I could not allow
myself to be so ordered by him; so I said nothing, but put
the knife back upon the table. He then took it again and
threw it beneath the grate. "I have a right to look upon
you as my wife," he said, "and, as such, I will not allow
you to keep that man's things about you." I think I told
him then that I should never become his wife, but though
I remember many of his words, I remember none of my own.
He swore, I know, with a great oath, that if I went back
a second time from my word to him he would leave me no