My kind old Benjamin left me at perfect liberty to be alone as long as I pleased.

Toward the afternoon I began to feel a little more like my old self again.

I mean by this that I could think of Eustace without bursting out crying, and could speak to Benjamin without distressing and frightening the dear old man.
That night I had a little more sleep.

The next morning I was strong enough to confront the first and foremost duty that I now owed to myself--the duty of answering my husband's letter.
I wrote to him in these words: "I am still too weak and weary, Eustace, to write to you at any length.
But my mind is clear.

I have formed my own opinion of you and your letter; and I know what I mean to do now you have left me.