She suddenly realised how cruelly Aubrey's words about Ronnie had, in the light of Ronnie's subsequent behaviour, eaten into her soul.
She looked at the fire.

She rose and moved towards it, the letter in her hand.
Then better counsels prevailed.
She went slowly upstairs to her sitting-room, closed the door, sat down, and opened Aubrey's letter.
It contained a smaller envelope sealed, on which was written: "Read letter first." She opened the folded sheets.
"DEAR HELEN, "Yes, you are right about God's Word not returning void.

Your own words, I admit, only hardened me; but those at the end of your letter broke me up.

I am so very far removed from light and fellowship, love and forgiveness.

I doubt if I can ever get back into the way of peace.
"But, anyhow, before the great Feast of Peace upon earth, goodwill toward men, I can take a first step by fully confessing the great wrong I did to you and to your husband rather more than a month ago, on the evening which he spent at my flat.
"Possibly you have found it out already; but possibly not, as I hear he has been very seriously ill.
"The evening he was here, he was more or less queer and light-headed, but he was full of you, and of his delight in going home.