But you could not be mine while you continue so to set me apart from all other women, as you say you do, in your affection.

I am truly grieved that you do this, and I hope that in your new free life you will very soon find other relations which will make you forget your old one with me.

I did you a great harm, but we were both ignorant of our mistake.

I pray that it may yet be repaired, and that you may soon be at rest in a happy home with a wife and children.

Then I should be glad to see you: until then, it is not best.
"Yours most honestly, "MERCY." Until he read this letter, Stephen had not known that secretly in the bottom of his heart he riad all these years cherished a hope that there might yet be a future in store for him and Mercy.