e time as those other letters to Roger Carbury and Hetta, in
which he told her all the circumstances of his engagement to Hetta
Carbury, and implored her to substantiate the truth of his own story.
It was certainly marvellous to her that the man who had so long been
her own lover and who had parted with her after such a fashion should
write such a letter to her. But it had no tendency to increase either
her anger or her sorrow. Of course she had known that it was so, and
at certain times she had told herself that it was only natural,--had
almost told herself that it was right. She and this young Englishman
were not fit to be mated. He was to her thinking a tame, sleek
household animal, whereas she knew herself to be wild,--fitter for the
woods than for polished cities. It had been one of the faults of her
life that she had allowed herself to be bound by tenderness of feeling
to this soft over-civilised man. The result had been disastrous, as
might have been expected. She was angry with him,--almost to the extent
of tearing him to pieces,--but she did not become more angry because he
wrote to her of her rival.

Her only present friend was Mrs Pipkin, who treated her with the
greatest deference, but who was never tired of asking questions about
the lost lover. 'That letter was from Mr Montague?' said Mrs Pipkin on
the morning after it had been received.

'How can you know that?'

'I'm sure it was. One does get to know handwritings when letters come
frequent.'

'It was from him. And why not?'

'Oh dear no;--why not certainly? I wish he'd write every day of his
life, so that things would come round again. Nothing ever troubles me
so much as broken love. Why don't he come again himself, Mrs Hurtle?'

'It is not at all likely that he should come again. It is all over, and
there is no good in talking of it. I shall return to New York on
Saturday week.'

'Oh, Mrs Hurtle!'

'I can't remain here, you know, all my life doing nothing. I came over
here for a certain purpose and that has--gone by. Now I may just go
back again.'

'I know he has ill-treated you. I know he has.'

'I am not disposed to talk about it, Mrs Pipkin.'

'I should have thought it would have done you good to speak your mind
out free. I knew it would me if I'd been served in that way.'

'If I had anything to say at all after that fashion it would be to the
gentleman, and not to any other else. As it is I shall never speak of
it again to any one. Y