It might--would--have been to her a struggle of inclination and duty; and duty would have won.

And so I carried out my duty, though I tell you it was a harsh and bitter task to me at the time.

But I may tell you that I have since been glad when I think of the result.

I tried, as you may perhaps remember, to carry out your wishes in another way, but your letter put the difficulty of doing so so clearly before me that I had to give it up.
And let me tell you that that letter endeared you to me more than ever.
I need not tell you that thenceforth I followed your life very closely.

When you ran away to sea, I used in secret every part of the mechanism of commerce to find out what had become of you.