MY DEAR EUSTACIA,
I must obey my heart without consulting
my reason too closely. Will you come back to me? Do so,
and the past shall never be mentioned. I was too severe;
but O, Eustacia, the provocation! You don't know,
you never will know, what those words of anger cost me
which you drew down upon yourself. All that an honest
man can promise you I promise now, which is that from me
you shall never suffer anything on this score again.
After all the vows we have made, Eustacia, I think we
had better pass the remainder of our lives in trying
to keep them. Come to me, then, even if you reproach me.
I have thought of your sufferings that morning on which I
parted from you; I know they were genuine, and they are as
much as you ought to bear. Our love must still continue.
Such hearts as ours would never have been given us but
to be concerned with each other. I could not ask you
back at first, Eustacia, for I was unable to persuade
myself that he who was with you was not there as a lover.
But if you will come and explain distracting appearances
I do not question that you can show your honesty to me.
Why have you not come before? Do you think I will
not listen to you? Surely not, when you remember the
kisses and vows we exchanged under the summer moon.
Return then, and you shall be warmly welcomed.
I can no longer think of you to your prejudice--I am
but too much absorbed in justifying you.--Your husband
as ever,
'CLYM.'
