I hope to press all the necessary records of the next three or four months into a few pages. A few pages will be needed in order that we may know how old Mr. Bertram behaved when he heard of this rupture¹ between his nephew and his granddaughter.

George, when he found himself back in town, shut himself up in his chambers² and went to work upon his manuscript. He, too, recognized the necessity of labour, in order that the sorrow within his heart might thus become dull and deadened.

But it was deep, true sorrow—to him at some periods almost overwhelming: he would get up from his desk during the night, and throwing himself on the sofa, lie there writhing³ in his agony. While he had known that Caroline was his own, he had borne his love more patiently than does many a man of less intensity⁴ of feeling. He had been much absent from her; had not abridged⁵ those periods of absence as he might have done; had, indeed, been but an indifferent lover, if eagerness and empressement are necessary to a lover's character. But this had arisen from two causes, and lukewarmness in his love had not been either of them. He had been compelled to feel that he must wait for the fruition of his love; and therefore had waited. And then he had been utterly⁶ devoid⁷ of any feeling of doubt in her he loved. She had decided⁸ that they should wait. And so he had waited as secure away from her as he could have been with her.

But his idea of a woman's love, of the purity and sanctity of her feelings, had been too high. He had left his betrothed⁹ to live without him, frequently without seeing him for months, and yet he had thought it utterly impossible that she should hold

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