Writing of the society in the neighborhood,he infor med me of his introduction to Miss Wyvil,and of the invitation that he had received to meet her friend and schoolfellow at Monksmoor.I knew that Miss Emily possessed a Handbill describing personal peculiarities in Mr.Mirabel,not hidden under the changed appearance of his head and face.If she remembered or happened to refer to that deion,while she was living in the same house with him,there was a possibility at least of her suspicion being excited.The fear of this took me to you.It was a morbid fear,and,as events turned out,an unfounded fear:but I was unable to control it.Failing to produce any effect on you,I went to Vale Regis,and tried (vainly again)to induce Mr.Mirabel to send an excuse to Monksmoor.He,like you,wanted to know what my motive was.When I tell you that I acted solely in Miss Emily's interests,and that I knew how she had been deceived about her father's death,need I say why I was afraid to acknowledge my motive?'
"I understood that Miss Jethro might well be afraid of the consequences,if she risked any allusion to Mr.Brown's horrible death,and if it afterward chanced to reach his daughter's ears.
But this state of feeling implied an extraordinary interest in the preservation of Emily's peace of mind.I asked Miss Jethro how that interest had been excited?
"She answered,'I can only satisfy you in one way.I must speak of her father now.'"Emily looked up from the manu.She felt Cecilia's arm tenderly caressing her.She heard Cecilia say,"My poor dear,there is one last trial of your courage still to come.I am afraid of what you are going to read,when you turn to the next page.And yet--""And yet,"Emily replied gently,"it must be done.I have learned my hard lesson of endurance,Cecilia,don't be afraid."Emily turned to the next page.
4.She Speaks of the Dead.
"For the first time,Miss Jethro appeared to be at a loss how to proceed.I could see that she was suffering.She rose,and opening a drawer in her writing table,took a letter from it.
"She said,'Will you read this?It was written by Miss Emily's father.Perhaps it may say more for me than I can say for myself?'
"I copy the letter.It was thus expressed:
"'You have declared that our farewell to-day is our farewell forever.For the second time,you have refused to be my wife;and you have done this,to use your own words,in mercy to Me.
"'In mercy to Me,I implore you to reconsider your decision.
"'If you condemn me to live without you--I feel it,I know it--you condemn me to despair which I have not fortitude enough to endure.Look at the passages which I have marked for you in the New Testament.Again and again,I say it;your true repentance has made you worthy of the pardon of God.Are you not worthy of the love,admiration,and respect of man?Think!oh,Sara,think of what our lives might be,and let them be united for time and for eternity.
"'I can write no more.A deadly faintness oppresses me.My mind is in a state unknown to me in past years.I am in such confusion that I sometimes think I hate you.And then I recover from my delusion,and know that man never loved woman as I love you.