m going to make would be regarded by you with favour.
Without such other judgement I should, I own, have feared
that the great disparity between you and me in regard to
money would have given to such a proposition an appearance
of being false and mercenary. All I ask of you now, with
confidence, is to acquit me of such fault as that.

When you have read so far you will understand what I mean.
We have known each other now somewhat intimately, though
indeed not very long, and I have sometimes fancied that
you were almost as well pleased to be with me as I have
been to be with you. If I have been wrong in this, tell me
so simply, and I will endeavour to let our friendship run
on as though this letter had not been written. But if I
have been right, and if it be possible that you can think
that a union between us will make us both happier than we
are single, I will plight you a word and troth with good
faith, and will do what an old man may do to make the
burden of the world lie light on your shoulders. Looking
at my age I can hardly keep myself from thinking that I
am an old fool: but I try to reconcile myself to that by
remembering that you yourself are no longer a girl. You
see that I pay you no compliments, and that you need
expect none from me.

I do not know that I could add anything to the truth of
this, if I were to write three times as much. All that is
necessary is, that you should know what I mean. If you do
not believe me to be true and honest already, nothing that
I can write will make you believe it.

God bless you. I know you will not keep me long in
suspense for an answer.

Affectionately your friend,

THOMAS THORNE.

When he had finished he meditated again for another half-hour whether
it would not be right that he should add something about her money.
Would it not be well for him to tell her--it might be said in a
postscript--that with regard to all her wealth she would be free to
do what she chose? At any rate he owed no debts for her to pay, and
would still have his own income, sufficient for his own purposes. But
about one o'clock he came to the conclusion that it would be better
to leave the matter alone. If she cared for him, and could trust him,
and was worthy also that he should trust her, no omission of such a
statement would deter her from coming to him: and if there were no
such trust, it woul