very peculiarly.  The remarkable thing is that you yourself, without knowing it, told me of what, added to their conversation, completely reveals a secret to me that neither of you understand.  Two negatives never made such a telling positive before.  One clue more, and you would see it.  A single consideration prevents my revealing it—­just one doubt as to whether your ignorance was real, and was not feigned to deceive me.  Civility now, please.  EUNICE.’

’41 CHARLES SQUARE,
Tuesday, November 22.

’MY DARLING HUSBAND,—­Monday will suit me excellently for coming.  I have acted exactly up to your instructions, and have sold my rubbish at the broker’s in the next street.  All this movement and bustle is delightful to me after the weeks of monotony I have endured.  It is a relief to wish the place good-bye—­London always has seemed so much more foreign to me than Liverpool The mid-day train on Monday will do nicely for me.  I shall be anxiously looking out for you on Sunday night.

’I hope so much that you are not angry with me for writing to Miss Aldclyffe.  You are not, dear, are you?  Forgive me.—­Your loving wife, EUNICE.’

This was the last of the letters from the wife to the husband.  One other, in Mrs. Manston’s handwriting, and in the same packet, was differently addressed.

                                    ’THREE TRANTERS INN, CARRIFORD,
                                                  November 28, 1864.

’DEAR COUSIN JAMES,—­Thank you indeed for answering my letter so promptly.  When I called at the post-office yesterday I did not in the least think there would be one.  But I must leave this subject.  I write again at once under the strangest and saddest conditions it is possible to conceive.

’I did not tell you in my last that I was a married woman.  Don’t blame me—­it was my husband’s influence.  I hardly know where to begin my story.  I had been living apart from him for a time—­then he sent for me (this was last week) and I was glad to go to him.  Then this is what he did.  He promised to fetch me, and did not —­leaving me to do the journey alone.  He promised to meet me at the station here—­he did not.  I went on through the darkness to his house, and found his door locked and himself away from home.  I have been obliged to come here, and I write to you in a strange room in a strange village inn!  I choose the present moment to write to drive away my misery.  Sorrow seems a sort of pleasure when you detail it on paper—­poor pleasure though.

’But this is what I want to know—­and I am ashamed to tell it.  I would gladly do as you say, and come to you as a housekeeper, but I have not the money even for a steerage passage.  James, do you want me badly enough—­do you pity me enough to send it?  I could manage to subsist in London upon the proceeds of my sale for another month or six weeks.  Will you send it to the same address at the post-office?  But how do I know that you . . . ’