wish
to repeat it now, further than to say that, if true, it establishes
circumstances which leave no doubt as to the existence of relations so
intimate between you as to amount to guilt. It may not be true or it
may, in which latter event I wish to say this: With your morality I have
nothing to do; it is your affair. Nor do I wish to plead to you as an
injured wife or to reproach you, for there are things too wicked for
mere reproach. But I will say this: if the story is true, I must presume
that you have some affection for the partner of your shame. I put myself
out of the question, and in the name of that affection, however guilty
it may be, I ask you to push matters no further. To do so will be
to bring its object to utter ruin. _If you care for him, sever all
connection with him utterly and for ever._ Otherwise he will live to
curse and hate you. Should you neglect this advice, and should the facts
that I have heard become public property, I warn you, as I have already
warned him, that in self-preservation and for the sake of self-respect,
I shall be forced to appeal to the law for my remedy. Remember that his
career is at stake, and that in losing it and me he will lose also his
child. Remember that if this comes about it will be through _you_. Do
not answer this, it will do no good, for I shall naturally put no faith
in your protestations, but if you are in any way or measure guilty of
this offence, appealing to you as one woman to another, and for the sake
of the man who is dear to both, I say do your best to redeem the
evil, _by making all further communication between yourself and him an
impossibility_. H.B."

It was a clever letter; Lady Honoria could not have devised one more
powerful to work on a woman like Beatrice. The same post that took it to
her took another from Geoffrey himself. It was long, though guarded, and
need not be quoted in its entirety, but it put the whole position before
her in somewhat veiled language, and ended by saying, "Marriage I cannot
give you, only life-long love. In other circumstances to offer this
would be an insult, but if things should be as a I fear, it is worth
your consideration. I do not say to you _come_, I say come _if you
wish_. No, Beatrice, I will not put this cruel burden of decision upon
you. I say _come!_ I do not command you to come, because I promised to
leave you uninfluenced. But I pray you to do so. Let us put an end to
this wretchedness, and count the worl