Page:Under the greenwood tree (1872 Volume 2).pdf/179

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
A CRISIS.
167

them eddy, dart, and turn, as they were carried downwards towards the ocean and gradually disappeared from his view. Finally he moved off, and pursued his way at a rapid pace towards Mellstock Vicarage.

Nerving himself by a long and intense effort, he sat down in his study and wrote as follows:

'Dear Miss Day,—The meaning of your words, "the temptation is too strong," of your sadness and your tears, has been brought home to me by an accident. I know to-day what I did not know yesterday—that you are not a free woman.

'Why did you not tell me—why didn't you? Did you suppose I knew? No. Had I known, my conduct in coming to you as I did would have been reprehensible.

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.