Why not at once? So as the bather who, for a considerable time,
has stood shivering on the bank, afraid to take the decisive
plunge, suddenly takes it, I tore open the letter almost before I
was aware. I had no sooner done so than a paper fell out. I
examined it; it contained a lock of bright flaxen hair. "This is
no good sign," said I, as I thrust the lock and paper into my
bosom, and proceeded to read the letter, which ran as follows: -
"TO THE YOUNG MAN IN MUMPERS' DINGLE.
"SIR,--I send these lines, with the hope and trust that they will
find you well, even as I am myself at this moment, and in much
better spirits, for my own are not such as I could wish they were,
being sometimes rather hysterical and vapourish, and at other
times, and most often, very low. I am at a sea-port, and am just
going on shipboard; and when you get these I shall be on the salt
waters, on my way to a distant country, and leaving my own behind
me, which I do not expect ever to see again.
"And now, young man, I will, in the first place, say something
about the manner in which I quitted you. It must have seemed
somewhat singular to you that I went away without taking any leave,
or giving you the slightest hint that I was going; but I did not do
so without considerable reflection.
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