“Well, then, I will acknowledge openly,” answered Charlotte, with some impatience, “my feeling is against this plan.  I have an instinct which tells me no good will come of it.”

“You women are invincible in this way,” replied Edward.  “You are so sensible, that there is no answering you, then so affectionate, that one is glad to give way to you; full of feelings, which one cannot wound, and full of forebodings, which terrify one.”

“I am not superstitious,” said Charlotte; “and I care nothing for these dim sensations, merely as such; but in general they are the result of unconscious recollections of happy or unhappy consequences, which we have experienced as following on our own or others’ actions.  Nothing is of greater moment, in any state of things, than the intervention of a third person.  I have seen friends, brothers and sisters, lovers, husbands and wives, whose relation to each other, through the accidental or intentional introduction of a third person, has been altogether changed—­whose whole moral condition has been inverted by it.”

“That may very well be,” replied Edward, “with people who live on without looking where they are going; but not, surely, with persons whom experience has taught to understand themselves.”

“That understanding ourselves, my dearest husband,” insisted Charlotte, “is no such certain weapon.  It is very often a most dangerous one for the person who bears it.  And out of all this, at least so much seems to arise, that we should not be in too great a hurry.  Let me have a few days to think; don’t decide.”

“As the matter stands,” returned Edward, “wait as many days as we will, we shall still be in too great a hurry.  The arguments for and against are all before us; all we want is the conclusion, and as things are, I think the best thing we can do is to draw lots.”

“I know,” said Charlotte, “that in doubtful cases it is your way to leave them to chance.  To me, in such a serious matter, this seems almost a crime.”

“Then what am I to write to the Captain?” cried Edward; “for write I must at once.”

“Write him a kind, sensible, sympathizing letter,” answered Charlotte.

“That is as good as none at all,” replied Edward.

“And there are many cases,” answered she, “in which we are obliged, and in which it is the real kindness, rather to write nothing than not to write.”

CHAPTER II

Edward was alone in his room.  The repetition of the incidents of his life from Charlotte’s lips; the representation of their mutual situation, their mutual purposes, had worked him, sensitive as he was, into a very pleasant state of mind.  While close to her—­while in her presence—­he had felt so happy, that he had thought out a warm, kind, but quiet and indefinite epistle which he would send to the Captain.  When, however, he had settled himself at his writing-table, and taken up his friend’s letter to read it over once more, the sad condition of this excellent man rose again vividly before him.  The feelings which had been all day distressing him again awoke, and it appeared impossible to him to leave one whom he called his friend in such painful embarrassment.