ading two other letters which she had received that morning from
the North of France. One was from Lord Reckage; the other was from
Pensee Fitz Rewes. Their respective contents ran as follows:--

MY DEAR SARA (I love the sweeter name of Valerie: may I not use it
sometimes?),--I shall never be able to get through all I have to
say--no words can reflect the fulness of human nature in such
suffering as it has been my privilege--and sorrow--to witness here.
In doubt, they tell us, we must stand on the rule of authority. But
for this principle I should find it hard to reconcile myself to
this deplorable affair of parting two people who love each other,
evidently, in an almost lyric sense. You, I know, will understand
that this expression contains no sneer at a frame of mind
altogether surpassing my own capacity for idealism. Are there many,
or any of us nowadays, who feel that there are certain things which
we must do, not do, or perish eternally? I have never detected this
narrow, vindictive, inherently superstitious view in Orange. I am
forced to the conclusion, therefore, that his truest happiness
consists always in his submission to the Will (as he understands
it) of God (as he understands Him). Men are like horses--unless
they are born with staying powers in them, no amount of training
can make them really stay. Robert is a born ecclesiastic--I have
said so always. His conduct in this present crisis will be a slap
in the face to those who insist that religion makes men timorous.
Speaking for myself, I never entertained a moment's doubt of his
acting in precisely the manner in which he has done; his worst
time, however, is, alas! to come; he may have to wait till eternity
for his recompense. That trial often embitters the most constant.
The devil is never embarrassed, and where virtue is found
superhuman, he takes every care to keep it on a sour--if
ethereal--diet. You will beg for less comment and more facts. Let
me give them. Orange himself, pale, restrained, haggard but superb,
met us at the station on our arrival. He had been waiting for us at
the hotel; Mrs. Parflete was at the Villa Miraflores. The two had
discussed the situation and parted on the mere reading of my
telegram. I cannot say that they might have acted otherwise, but
only that they acted as