I had addressed you twice,—­once under the impression that I should not survive the birth of my child; again during the siege of Rome, the father and I being both in danger.  I took Mrs. Story, and, when she left Rome, Mr. Cass, into my confidence.  Both were kind as sister and brother.  Amid much pain and struggle, sweet, is the memory of the generous love I received from William and Emelyn Story, and their uncle.  They helped me gently through a most difficult period.  Mr. Cass, also, who did not know me at all, has done everything possible for me.

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A letter to her sister fills out these portraits of her husband and child.

* * * * *

About Ossoli[B] I do not like to say much, as he is an exceedingly delicate person.  He is not precisely reserved, but it is not natural to him to talk about the objects of strong affection.  I am sure he would not try to describe me to his sister, but would rather she would take her own impression of me; and, as much as possible, I wish to do the same by him.  I presume that, to many of my friends, he will be nothing, and they will not understand that I should have life in common with him.  But I do not think he will care;—­he has not the slightest tinge of self-love.  He has, throughout our intercourse, been used to my having many such ties.  He has no wish to be anything to persons with whom he does not feel spontaneously bound, and when I am occupied, is happy in himself.  But some of my friends and my family, who will see him in the details of practical life, cannot fail to prize the purity and simple strength of his character; and, should he continue to love me as he has done, his companionship will be an inestimable blessing to me.  I say if, because all human affections are frail, and I have experienced too great revulsions in my own, not to know it.  Yet I feel great confidence in the permanence of his love.  It has been unblemished so far, under many trials; especially as I have been more desponding and unreasonable, in many ways, than I ever was before, and more so, I hope, than I ever shall be again.  But at all such times, he never had a thought except to sustain and cheer me.  He is capable of the sacred love,—­the love passing that of woman.  He showed it to his father, to Rome, to me.  Now he loves his child in the same way.  I think he will be an excellent father, though he could not speculate about it, nor, indeed, about anything.

Our meeting was singular,—­fateful, I may say.  Very soon he offered me his hand through life, but I never dreamed I should take it.  I loved him, and felt very unhappy to leave him; but the connection seemed so every way unfit, I did not hesitate a moment.  He, however, thought I should return to him, as I did.  I acted upon a strong impulse, and could not analyze at all what passed in my mind.  I neither rejoice nor grieve;—­for bad or for good, I acted out my character Had I never