While his
room was getting ready, Ralph sent for his clothes, and by the same
messenger he despatched the little note to Ellinor. But there was the
letter he had promised her in it still to be written; and it was almost
his night's employment to say enough, yet not too much; for, as he
expressed it to himself, he was half way over the stream, and it would be
folly to turn back, for he had given nearly as much pain both to himself
and Ellinor by this time as he should do by making the separation final.
Besides, after Mr. Wilkins's speeches that evening--but he was candid
enough to acknowledge that, bad and offensive as they had been, if they
had stood alone they might have been condoned.
His letter ran as follows:
"DEAREST ELLINOR, for dearest you are, and I think will ever be, my
judgment has consented to a step which is giving me great pain,
greater than you will readily believe. I am convinced that it is
better that we should part; for circumstances have occurred since we
formed our engagement which, although I am unaware of their exact
nature, I can see weigh heavily upon you, and have materially affected
your father's behaviour. Nay, I think, after to-night, I may almost
say have entirely altered his feelings towards me. What these
circumstances are I am ignorant, any further than that I know from
your own admission, that they may lead to some future disgrace.
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