Creative Books

"A. B."

For a moment Angela was tempted to mistrust this enclosure, and almost
come to the determination to throw it into the fire, feeling sure that
a serpent lurked in the grass and that it was a cunningly disguised
love-letter. But curiosity overcame her, and she opened it as gingerly
as though it were infected, unfolding the sheet with the handle of her
hair-brush. Its contents were destined to give her a surprise. They
ran thus:

"Isleworth Hall, September 20.
"My dear Cousin,
"After what passed between us a few days ago you will perhaps be
surprised at hearing from me, but, if you have the patience to
read this short letter, its contents will not, I fear, be
altogether displeasing to you. They are very simple. I write to
say that I accept your verdict, and that you need fear no further
advances from me. Whether I quite deserved all the bitter words
you poured out upon me I leave you to judge at leisure, seeing
that my only crime was that I loved you. To most women that
offence would not have seemed so unpardonable.


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