his sins and--which was much more to him--all
his loves had been fully discussed between his friend and Miss
Waddington--between his Caroline and another man. To the pride of
his heart nothing could be more revolting. It was as though his
dearest possession had been ransacked in his absence, and rifled and
squandered by the very guardian to whom he had left the key. There
had been sore misgivings, sore differences between him and Caroline;
but, nevertheless, she had had all his heart. Now, in his absence,
she had selected his worldly friend Harcourt, and discussed that
possession and its flaws with him! There was that in all this of
which he could not write with good-humour. Nevertheless, had he kept
his letter to the second morning, it may probably be said that he
would have hesitated to send it.

"My dearest Caroline," it began. Now I put it to all lovers whether,
when they wish to please, they ever write in such manner to their
sweethearts. Is it not always, "My own love?" "Dearest love?" "My own
sweet pet?" But that use of the Christian name, which is so delicious
in the speaking during the first days of intimacy, does it not always
betoken something stern at the beginning of a lover's letter? Ah, it
may betoken something very stern! "My dearest Jane, I am sorry to say
it, but I could not approve of the way in which you danced with Major
Simkins last night." "My dearest Lucy, I was at Kensington-garden
gate yesterday at four, and remained absolutely till five. You really
ought--." Is not that always the angry lover's tone?

I fear that I must give Bertram's letter entire to make the matter
sufficiently clear.

My dearest Caroline,

I learn from Mr. Harcourt that you and Miss Baker are
in town, and I am of course sorry to miss you. Would it
not have been better that I should have heard this from
yourself?

Mr. Harcourt tells me that you are dissatisfied; and I
understand from his letter that you have explained your
dissatisfaction very fully to him. It might have been
better, I think, that the explanation should have been
made to me; or had you chosen to complain, you might have
done so to your aunt, or to your grandfather. I cannot
think that you were at liberty to complain of me to
Mr. Harcourt. My wish is, that you have no further
conversation with him on our joint concerns. It is not
seemly; and, if feminine, is at any rate not ladylike.

I am driven to