' I never expected him to
answer that second note, but he did, at once. And he offered to come
here and explain--he was dreadfully distressed. But I preferred to go
to him."
"And you went?"
"Yes. And I was frightened, and he was very kind."
By degrees she told me much of what had passed at that interview. She
seemed to have had no thought of anything but her desire to see him,
and have her mind set at rest, until she found herself face to face
with him, and then she was assailed by all kinds of doubts and fears;
but he had put her at her ease in five minutes--and in five minutes
more she had forgotten everything in the rapid change of ideas, the
delightful intellectual contest and communion, which had made his
companionship everything to her. She did just remember to ask him why
he had not answered her first letter.
He searched about amongst a pile of newly-arrived documents on his
writing table. "There it is," he said, showing her the letter covered
with stamps and postmarks. "It only arrived this morning--just in time,
though, to speak for itself. I was abroad when you wrote, and it was
sent after me, and has followed me from place to place as you see, so
that I got your second letter first.
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