re is only one more sacrifice left for me to make--the sacrifice of
my heart's dearest feelings. With no prospects before me, with no chance
of coming home, what hope can I feel of performing my engagement to
yourself? None! A more selfish man than I am might hold you to that
engagement; a less considerate man than I am might keep you waiting for
years--and to no purpose after all. Cruelly as they have been trampled
on, my feelings are too sensitive to allow me to do this. I write it
with the tears in my eyes--you shall not link your fate to an outcast.
Accept these heart-broken lines as releasing you from your promise. Our
engagement is at an end.

"The one consolation which supports me in bidding you farewell is, that
neither of us is to blame. You may have acted weakly, under my father's
influence, but I am sure you acted for the best. Nobody knew what the
fatal consequences of driving me out of England would be but myself--and
I was not listened to. I yielded to my father, I yielded to you; and
this is the end of it!

"I am suffering too acutely to write more. May you never know what my
withdrawal from our engagement has cost me! I beg you will not
blame yourself. It is not your fault that I have had all my energies
misdirected by others--it is not your fault that I have never had a fair
chance of getting on in life. Forget the deserted wretch who breathes
his heartfelt prayers for your happiness, and who will ever remain your
friend and well-wisher.

"FRANCIS CLARE, Jun."

VI.

_From Francis Clare, Sen., to Magdalen_.

_[Inclosing the preceding Letter.]_

"I always told your poor father my son was a Fool, but I never knew he
was a Scoundrel until the mail came in from China. I have every reason
to believe that he has left his employers under the most disgraceful
circumstances. Forget him from this time forth, as I do. When you and
I last set eyes on each other, you behaved well to me in this business.
All I can now say in return, I do say. My girl, I am sorry for you,

"F. C."

VII.

_From Mrs. Wragge to her Husband._

"Dear sir for mercy's sake come here and help us She had a dreadful
letter I don't know what yesterday but she read it in bed and when I
went in with her breakfast I found her dead and if the doctor had not
been two doors off nobody else could have brought her to life again and
she sits and looks dreadful and won't speak a word her eyes frighten me
so I shake from head to foot oh p