“I do not dare to charge you with a breach of your pledged word.  Let me tell you simply that Emilia has become aware of your project to enter the Austrian service, and it has had the effect on her which I foresaw.  She could bear to hear of your marriage, but this is too much for her, and it breaks my heart to see her.  It is too cruel.  She does not betray any emotion, but I can see that every principle she had gained is gone, and that her bosom holds the shadows of a real despair.  I foresaw it, and sought to guard her against it.  That you, whom she had once called (to me) her lover, should enlist himself as an enemy, of her country!—­it comes to her as a fact striking her brain dumb while she questions it, and the poor body has nothing to do but to ache.  Surely you could have no object in doing this?  I will not suspect it.  Mr. Runningbrook is acquainted with your plans, I believe; but he has no remembrance of having mentioned this one to Emilia.  He distinctly assures me that he has not done so, and I trust him to speak truth.  How can it have happened?  But here is the evil done.  I see no remedy.  I am not skilled in sketching the portraits you desire of her, and yet, if you have ever wished her to know this miserable thing, it would be as well that you should see the different face that has come among us within twenty hours.”

[Wilfrid to Georgiana Ford:]

“I will confine my reply to a simple denial of having caused this fatal intelligence to reach her ears; for the truth of which, I pledge my honour as a gentleman.  A second’s thought would have told me—­indeed I at once acquiesced in your view—­that she should not know it.  How it has happened it is vain to attempt to guess.  Can you suppose that I desired her to hate me?  Yet this is what the knowledge of the step I am taking will make her do!  If I could see—­if I might see her for five minutes, I should be able to explain everything, and, I sincerely think (painful as it would be to me), give her something like peace.  It is too late even to wish to justify myself; but her I can persuade that she—­ Do you not see that her mind is still unconvinced of my—­I will call it baseness!  Is this the self-accusing you despise?  A little of it must be heard.  If I may see her I will not fail to make her understand my position.  She shall see that it is I who am worthless—­not she!  You know the circumstances under which I last beheld her—­when I saw pang upon pang smiting her breast from my silence!  But now I may speak.  Do not be prepossessed against my proposal!  It shall be only for five minutes—­no more.  Not that it is my desire to come.  In truth, it could not be.  I have felt that I alone can cure her—­I who did the harm.  Mark me:  she will fret secretly—­, but dear and kindest lady, do not smile too critically at the tone I adopt.  I cannot tell how I am writing or what saying.  Believe me that I am deeply and constantly sensible of your generosity.  In case you hesitate, I beg you to consult Mr. Powys.”