CHAPTERVIII。
THEMINISTERSAYSGOOD—BY。
THECapitalPunishmentofthePrisonerisinnorespectconnectedwithmypurposeinwritingthepresentnarrative。NeitherdoI
desiretodarkenthesepagesbydescribingindetailanactofrighteousretributionwhichmustpresent，bythenatureofit，asceneofhorror。ForthesereasonsIasktobeexcused，ifI
limitwhatImustneedssayoftheexecutionwithinthecompassofafewwords——andpasson。
Theoneself—possessedpersonamonguswasthemiserablewomanwhosufferedthepenaltyofdeath。
Notverydiscreetly，asIthink，theChaplainaskedherifshehadtrulyrepented。Sheanswered：\"Ihaveconfessedthecrime，sir。Whatmoredoyouwant？\"Tomymind——stillhesitatingbetweentheviewthatbelieveswiththeMinister，andtheviewthatdoubtswiththeDoctor——thisreplyleavesawayopentohopeofhersalvation。Herlastwordstome，asshemountedthestepsofthescaffold，were：\"Rememberyourpromise。\"Itwaseasyformetobetruetomyword。Atthatbygonetime，nodifficultieswereplacedinmywaybysuchprecautionsasarenowobservedintheconductofexecutionswithinthewallsoftheprison。Fromthetimeofherdeathtothetimeofherburial，nolivingcreaturesawherface。Sherests，veiledinherprisongrave。
Letmenowturntolivinginterests，andtoscenesremovedfromthethunder—cloudsofcrime。
OnthenextdayIreceivedavisitfromtheMinister。
Hisfirstwordsentreatedmenottoalludetotheterribleeventofthepreviousday。\"Icannotescapethinkingofit，\"hesaid，\"butImayavoidspeakingofit。\"Thisseemedtometobethemisplacedconfidenceofaweakmanintherefugeofsilence。Bywayofchangingthesubject，Ispokeofthechild。Therewouldbeseriousdifficultiestocontendwith（asIventuredtosuggest），ifheremainedinthetown，andallowedhisnewresponsibilitiestobecomethesubjectofpublictalk。
Hisreplytothisagreeablysurprisedme。Therewerenodifficultiestobefeared。
Thestateofhiswife’shealthhadobligedhim（actingundermedicaladvice）totrytheinfluenceofhernativeair。Anintervalofsomemonthsmightelapsebeforethegoodeffectofthechangehadsufficientlydeclareditself；andareturntothepeculiarclimateofthetownmightbringonarelapse。Therehadconsequentlybeennoalternativetobutresignhischarge。Onlyonthatdaytheresignationhadbeenaccepted——withexpressionsofregretsincerelyreciprocatedbyhimself。Heproposedtoleavethetownimmediately；andoneoftheobjectsofhisvisitwastobidmegood—by。
\"ThenextplaceIlivein，\"hesaid，\"willbemorethanahundredmilesaway。AtthatdistanceImayhopetokeepeventsconcealedwhichmustbeknownonlytoourselves。SofarasIcansee，therearenorisksofdiscoverylurkinginthisplace。Myservants（onlytwoinnumber）havebothbeenbornhere，andhavebothtoldmywifethattheyhavenowishtogoaway。AstothepersonwhointroducedherselftomebythenameofMissChance，shewastracedtotherailwaystationyesterdayafternoon，andtookherticketforLondon。\"
IcongratulatedtheMinisteronthegoodfortunewhichhadbefriendedhim，sofar。
\"YouwillunderstandhowcarefullyIhaveprovidedagainstbeingdeceived，\"hecontinued，\"whenItellyouwhatmyplansare。Thepersonsamongwhommyfuturelotiscast——andthechildherself，ofcourse——mustneversuspectthatthenewmemberofmyfamilyisotherthanmyowndaughter。Thisisdeceit，Iadmit；butitisdeceitthatinjuresnoone。Ihopeyouseethenecessityforit，asIdo。\"
Therecouldbenodoubtofthenecessity。
Ifthechildwasdescribedasadopted，therewouldbecuriosityaboutthecircumstances，andinquiriesrelatingtotheparents。
Prevaricatingrepliesleadtosuspicion，andsuspiciontodiscovery。ButforthewisecoursewhichtheMinisterhaddecidedontaking，thepoorchild’slifemighthavebeendarkenedbythehorrorofthemother’scrime，andtheinfamyofthemother’sdeath。
Havingquietedmyfriend’sneedlessscruplesbythisperfectlysincereexpressionofopinion，Iventuredtoapproachthecentralfigureinhisdomesticcircle，bymeansofaquestionrelatingtohiswife。Howhadthatladyreceivedtheunfortunatelittlecreature，forwhoseappearanceonthehome—sceneshemusthavebeenentirelyunprepared？
TheMinister’smannershowedsomeembarrassment；heprefacedwhathehadtotellmewithpraisesofhiswife，equallycreditablenodoubttobothofthem。Thebeautyofthechild，theprettywaysofthechild，hesaid，fascinatedtheadmirablewomanatfirstsight。Itwasnottobedeniedthatshehadfelt，andhadexpressed，misgivings，onbeinginformedofthecircumstancesunderwhichtheMinister’sactofmercyhadbeenperformed。Buthermindwastoowellbalancedtoinclinetothisstateoffeeling，whenherhusbandhadaddressedherindefenseofhisconduct。Shethenunderstoodthatthetruemeritofagoodactionconsistedinpatientlyfacingthesacrificesinvolved。Herinterestinthenewdaughterbeing，inthisway，ennobledbyasenseofChristianduty，therehadbeennofurtherdifferenceofopinionbetweenthemarriedpair。
Ilistenedtothisplausibleexplanationwithinterest，but，atthesametime，withdoubtsofthelastingnatureofthelady’ssubmissiontocircumstances；suggested，perhaps，bytheconstraintintheMinister’smanner。Itwaswellforbothofuswhenwechangedthesubject。HeremindedmeofthediscouragingviewwhichtheDoctorhadtakenoftheprospectbeforehim。
\"Iwillnotattempttodecidewhetheryourfriendisrightorwrong，\"hesaid。\"Trusting，asIdo，inthemercyofGod，Ilookhopefullytoafuturetimewhenallthatisbrightestandbestinthenatureofmyadoptedchildwillbedevelopedundermyfosteringcare。Ifeviltendenciesshowthemselves，myreliancewillbeconfidentlyplacedonpiousexample，onreligiousinstruction，and，aboveall，onintercessionbyprayer。Repeattoyourfriend，\"heconcluded，\"whatyouhavejustheardmesay。Lethimaskhimselfifhecouldconfronttheuncertainfuturewithmycheerfulsubmissionandmysteadfasthope。\"
Heintrustedmewiththatmessage，andgavemehishand。Soweparted。
Iagreedwithhim，Iadmiredhim；butmyfaithseemedtowantsustainingpower，ascomparedwithhisfaith。Onhisownshowing（asitappearedtome），therewouldbetwoforcesinastateofconflictinthechild’snatureasshegrewup——inheritedevilagainstinculcatedgood。TryasImight，IfailedtofeeltheMinister’scomfortingconvictionastowhichofthetwowouldwin。
CHAPTERIX。
THEGOVERNORRECEIVESAVISIT。
AFEWdaysafterthegoodmanhadleftus，Imetwithaseriousaccident，causedbyafalsesteponthestonestairsoftheprison。
Thelongillnesswhichfollowedthismisfortune，andmyremovalafterward（intheinterestsofmyrecovery）toamilderclimatethantheclimateofEngland，obligedmetoconfidethedutiesofgovernoroftheprisontoarepresentative。Iwasabsentfrommypostforrathermorethanayear。Duringthisintervalnonewsreachedmefrommyreverendfriend。
Havingreturnedtothedutiesofmyoffice，IthoughtofwritingtotheMinister。Whiletheproposedletterwasstillincontemplation，Iwasinformedthataladywishedtoseeme。Shesentinhercard。MyvisitorprovedtobetheMinister’swife。
Iobservedherwithnoordinaryattentionwhensheenteredtheroom。
Herdresswassimple；herscantylighthair，sofarasIcouldseeitunderherbonnet，wasdressedwithtaste。Thepalenessofherlips，andthefadedcolorinherface，suggestedthatshewascertainlynotingoodhealth。Twopeculiaritiesstruckmeinherpersonalappearance。Ineverrememberedhavingseenanyotherpersonwithsuchasingularlynarrowandslantingforeheadasthisladypresented；andIwasimpressed，notatallagreeably，bytheflashingshiftingexpressioninhereyes。Ontheotherhand，letmeownthatIwaspowerfullyattractedandinterestedbythebeautyofhervoice。Itsfinevarietyofcompass，anditsmusicalresonanceoftone，fellwithsuchenchantmentontheear，thatIshouldhavelikedtoputabookofpoetryintoherhand，andtohaveheardherreaditinsummer—time，accompaniedbythemusicofarockystream。
Theobjectofhervisit——sofarassheexplaineditattheoutset——appearedtobetoofferhercongratulationsonmyrecovery，andtotellmethatherhusbandhadassumedthechargeofachurchinalargetownnotfarfromherbirthplace。
Eventhosecommonplacewordsweremadeinterestingbyherdeliciousvoice。Buthoweversensitivetosweetsoundsamanmaybe，therearelimitstohiscapacityfordeceivinghimself——especiallywhenhehappenstobeenlightenedbyexperienceofhumanitywithinthewallsofaprison。Ihad，itmayberemembered，alreadydoubtedthelady’sgoodtemper，judgingfromherhusband’sover—wroughtdescriptionofhervirtues。Hereyeslookedatmefurtively；andhermanner，gracefullyself—possessedasitwas，suggestedthatshehadsomethingofadelicate，ordisagreeable，naturetosaytome，andthatshewasatalosshowtoapproachthesubjectsoastoproducetherightimpressiononmymindattheoutset。Therewasamomentarysilencebetweenus。Forthesakeofsayingsomething，IaskedhowsheandtheMinisterlikedtheirnewplaceofresidence。
\"Ournewplaceofresidence，\"sheanswered，\"hasbeenmadeinterestingbyaveryunexpectedevent——anevent（howshallI
describeit？）whichhasincreasedourhappinessandenlargedourfamilycircle。\"
Thereshestopped：expectingme，asIfancied，toguesswhatshemeant。Awoman，andthatwomanamother，mighthavefulfilledheranticipations。Aman，andthatmannotlisteningattentively，wassimplypuzzled。
\"Prayexcusemystupidity，\"Isaid；\"Idon’tquiteunderstandyou。\"
Thelady’stemperlookedatmeoutofthelady’sshiftingeyes，andhiditselfagaininamoment。Shesetherselfrightinmyestimationbytakingthewholeblameofourlittlemisunderstandingonherowninnocentshoulders。
\"Ioughttohavespokenmoreplainly，\"shesaid。\"LetmetrywhatIcandonow。Aftermanyyearsofdisappointmentinmymarriedlife，ithaspleasedProvidencetobestowonmethehappiness——theinexpressiblehappiness——ofbeingamother。Mybabyisasweetlittlegirl；andmyoneregretisthatIcannotnursehermyself。\"
MylanguidinterestintheMinister’swifewasnotstimulatedbytheannouncementofthisdomesticevent。
Ifeltnowishtoseethe\"sweetlittlegirl\"；Iwasnotevenremindedofanotherexampleoflong—deferredmaternity，whichhadoccurredwithinthelimitsofmyownfamilycircle。Allmysympathiesattachedthemselvestothesadlittlefigureoftheadoptedchild。Irememberedthepoorbabyonmyknee，enchantedbythetickingofmywatch——Ithoughtofher，peacefullyandprettilyasleepunderthehorridshelterofthecondemnedcell——anditishardlytoomuchtosaythatmyheartwasheavy，whenIcomparedherprospectswiththeprospectsofherbaby—rival。Kindashewas，conscientiousashewas，couldtheMinisterbeexpectedtoadmittoanequalshareinhislovethechildendearedtohimasafather，andthechildwhomerelyremindedhimofanactofmercy？Asforhiswife，itseemedthemerestwasteoftimetoputherstateoffeeling（placedbetweenthetwochildren）tothetestofinquiry。Itriedtheuselessexperiment，nevertheless。
\"Itispleasanttothink，\"Ibegan，\"thatyourotherdaughter——\"
Sheinterruptedme，withtheutmostgentleness：\"Doyoumeanthechildthatmyhusbandwasfoolishenoughtoadopt？\"
\"Sayratherfortunateenoughtoadopt，\"Ipersisted。\"Asyourownlittlegirlgrowsup，shewillwantaplayfellow。Andshewillfindaplayfellowinthatotherchild，whomthegoodMinisterhastakenforhisown。\"
\"No，mydearsir——notifIcanpreventit。\"
Thecontrastbetweenthecrueltyofherintention，andthemusicalbeautyofthevoicewhichpolitelyexpresseditinthosewords，reallystartledme。Iwasatalosshowtoanswerher，attheverytimewhenIoughttohavebeenmostreadytospeak。
\"Youmustsurelyunderstand，\"shewenton，\"thatwedon’twantanotherperson’schild，nowwehavealittledarlingofourown？\"
\"Doesyourhusbandagreewithyouinthatview？\"Iasked。
\"Ohdear，no！Hesaidwhatyousaidjustnow，and（oddlyenough）
almostinthesamewords。ButIdon’tatalldespairofpersuadinghimtochangehismind——andyoucanhelpme。\"
Shemadethataudaciousassertionwithsuchanappearanceoffeelingperfectlysureofme，thatmypolitenessgavewayunderthestrainlaidonit。\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iaskedsharply。
Notintheleastimpressedbymychangeofmanner，shetookfromthepocketofherdressaprintedpaper。\"YouwillfindwhatI
meanthere，\"shereplied——andputthepaperintomyhand。
Itwasanappealtothecharitablepublic，occasionedbytheenlargementofanorphan—asylum，withwhichIhadbeenconnectedformanyyears。Whatshemeantwasplainenoughnow。Isaidnothing：Ionlylookedather。
PleasedtofindthatIwascleverenoughtoguesswhatshemeant，onthisoccasion，theMinister’swifeinformedmethatthecircumstanceswereallinourfavor。Shestillpersistedintakingmeintopartnership——thecircumstanceswerein_our_
favor。
\"Intwoyearsmore，\"sheexplained，\"thechildofthatdetestablecreaturewhowashanged——doyouknow，Icannotevenlookatthelittlewretchwithoutthinkingofthegallows？——willbeoldenough（withyourinteresttohelpus）tobereceivedintotheasylum。Whatareliefitwillbetogetridofthatchild！AndhowhardIshallworkatcanvassingforsubscribers’votes！YournamewillbeatowerofstrengthwhenIuseitasareference。
Pardonme——youarenotlookingsopleasantlyasusual。Doyouseesomeobstaclesinourway？\"
\"Iseetwoobstacles。\"
\"Whatcantheypossiblybe？\"
Forthesecondtime，mypolitenessgavewayunderthestrainlaidonit。\"Youknowperfectlywell，\"Isaid，\"whatoneoftheobstaclesis。\"
\"AmItounderstandthatyoucontemplateanyseriousresistanceonthepartofmyhusband？\"
\"Certainly！\"
Shewasunaffectedlyamusedbymysimplicity。
\"Areyouasingleman？\"sheasked。
\"Iamawidower。\"
\"ThenyourexperienceoughttotellyouthatIknoweveryweakpointintheMinister’scharacter。Icantellhim，onyourauthority，thatthehatefulchildwillbeplacedincompetentandkindlyhands——andIhavemyownsweetbabytopleadforme。Withtheseadvantagesinmyfavor，doyouactuallysupposeIcanfailtomake_my_wayofthinking_his_wayofthinking？Youmusthaveforgottenyourownmarriedlife！Supposewegoontothesecondofyourtwoobstacles。Ihopeitwillbebetterworthconsideringthanthefirst。\"
\"Thesecondobstaclewillnotdisappointyou，\"Ianswered；\"Iamtheobstacle，thistime。\"
\"Yourefusetohelpme？\"
\"Positively。\"
\"Perhapsreflectionmayalteryourresolution？\"
\"Reflectionwilldonothingofthekind。\"
\"Youarerude，sir！\"
\"Inspeakingtoyou，madam，Ihavenoalternativebuttospeakplainly。\"
Sherose。Hershiftingeyes，foronce，lookedatmesteadily。
\"WhatsortofenemyhaveImadeofyou？\"sheasked。\"Apassiveenemywhoiscontentwithrefusingtohelpme？Oranactiveenemywhowillwritetomyhusband？\"
\"Itdependsentirely，\"Itoldher，\"onwhatyourhusbanddoes。Ifhequestionsmeaboutyou，Ishalltellhimthetruth。\"
\"Andifnot？\"
\"Inthatcase，Ishallhopetoforgetthatyoueverfavoredmewithavisit。\"
InmakingthisreplyIwasguiltlessofanymaliciousintention。
Whatevilinterpretationsheplacedonmywordsitisimpossibleformetosay；Icanonlydeclarethatsomeintolerablesenseofinjuryhurriedherintoanoutbreakofrage。Hervoice，strainedforthefirsttime，lostitstunefulbeautyoftone。
\"Comeandseeusintwoyears’time，\"sheburstout——\"anddiscovertheorphanofthegallowsinourhouseifyoucan！IfyourAsylumwon’ttakeher，someotherCharitywill。Ha，Mr。
Governor，Ideservemydisappointment！Ioughttohaverememberedthatyouareonlyajailerafterall。Andwhatisajailer？
Proverbiallyabrute。Doyouhearthat？Abrute！\"
Herstrengthsuddenlyfailedher。Shedroppedbackintothechairfromwhichshehadrisen，withafaintcryofpain。Aghastlypallorstoleoverherface。Therewaswineonthesideboard；I
filledaglass。Sherefusedtotakeit。Atthattimeintheday，theDoctor’sdutiesrequiredhisattendanceintheprison。I
instantlysentforhim。Afteramoment’slookather，hetookthewineoutofmyhand，andheldtheglasstoherlips。
\"Drinkit，\"hesaid。Shestillrefused。\"Drinkit，\"hereiterated，\"oryouwilldie。\"
Thatfrightenedher；shedrankthewine。TheDoctorwaitedforawhilewithhisfingersonherpulse。\"Shewilldonow，\"hesaid。
\"CanIgo？\"sheasked。
\"Gowhereveryouplease，madam——solongasyoudon’tgoupstairsinahurry。\"
Shesmiled：\"Iunderstandyou，sir——andthankyouforyouradvice。\"
IaskedtheDoctor，whenwewerealone，whatmadehimtellhernottogoupstairsinahurry。
\"WhatIfelt，\"heanswered，\"whenIhadmyfingersonherpulse。
Youheardhersaythatsheunderstoodme。\"
\"Yes；butIdon’tknowwhatshemeant。\"
\"Shemeant，probably，thatherowndoctorhadwarnedherasI
did。\"
\"Somethingseriouslywrongwithherhealth？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Heart。\"
CHAPTERX。
MISSCHANCEREAPPEARS。
AWEEKhadpassed，sincetheMinister’swifehadleftme，whenI
receivedaletterfromtheMinisterhimself。
Aftersurprisingme，asheinnocentlysupposed，byannouncingthebirthofhischild，hementionedsomecircumstancesconnectedwiththatevent，whichInowheardforthefirsttime。
\"Withinaneasyjourneyofthepopuloussceneofmypresentlabors，\"hewrote，\"thereisasecludedcountryvillagecalledLowLanes。Therectoroftheplaceismywife’sbrother。Beforethebirthofourinfant，hehadaskedhissistertostayforawhileathishouse；andthedoctorthoughtshemightsafelybeallowedtoaccepttheinvitation。Throughsomeerrorinthecustomarycalculations，asIsuppose，thechildwasbornunexpectedlyattherectory；andtheceremonyofbaptismwasperformedatthechurch，undercircumstanceswhichIamnotabletorelatewithinthelimitsofaletter：LetmeonlysaythatI
alludetothisincidentwithoutanysectarianbitternessoffeeling——forIamnoenemytotheChurchofEngland。Youhavenoideawhattreasuresofvirtueandtreasuresofbeautymaternityhasrevealedinmywife’ssweetnature。Othermothers，inherproudposition，mightfindtheirlovecoolingtowardthepoorchildwhomwehaveadopted。Butmyhouseholdisirradiatedbythepresenceofanangel，whogivesanequalshareinheraffectionstothetwolittleonesalike。\"
Inthissemi—hystericalstyleofwriting，thepoormanunconsciouslytoldmehowcunninglyandhowcruellyhiswifewasdeceivinghim。
Ilongedtoexhibitthatwickedwomaninhertruecharacter——butwhatcouldIdo？Shemusthavebeensofavoredbycircumstancesastobeabletoaccountforherabsencefromhome，withoutexcitingtheslightestsuspicionofthejourneywhichshehadreallytaken，ifIdeclaredinmyreplytotheMinister’sletterthatIhadreceivedherinmyrooms，andifIrepeatedtheconversationthathadtakenplace，whatwouldtheresultbe？Shewouldfindaneasyrefugeinpositivedenialofthetruth——and，inthatcase，whichofuswouldherinfatuatedhusbandbelieve？
TheonepartoftheletterwhichIreadwithsomesatisfactionwastheendofit。
IwashereinformedthattheMinister’splansforconcealingtheparentageofhisadopteddaughterhadprovedtobeentirelysuccessful。Themembersofthenewdomestichouseholdbelievedthetwochildrentobeinfant—sisters。Neitherwasthereanydangeroftheadoptedchildbeingidentified（astheoldestchildofthetwo）byconsultationoftheregisters。
Beforeheleftourtown，theMinisterhadseenforhimselfthatnobaptismalnamehadbeenadded，afterthebirthofthedaughterofthemurderesshadbeenregistered，andthatnoentryofbaptismexistedintheregisterskeptinplacesofworship。Hedrewtheinference——inallprobabilityatrueinference，consideringthecharactersoftheparents——thatthechildhadneverbeenbaptized；andheperformedtheceremonyprivately，abstaining，forobviousreasons，fromaddingherChristiannametotheimperfectregisterofherbirth。\"Iamnotaware，\"hewrote，\"whetherIhave，orhavenot，committedanoffenseagainsttheLaw。Inanycase，ImayhopetohavemadeatonementbyobediencetotheGospel。\"
Sixweekspassed，andIheardfrommyreverendfriendoncemore。
Hissecondletterpresentedamarkedcontrasttothefirst。Itwaswritteninsorrowandanxiety，toinformmeofanalarmingchangefortheworseinhiswife’shealth。Ishowedthelettertomymedicalcolleague。Afterreadingithepredictedtheeventthatmightbeexpected，intwowords：——Suddendeath。
OnthenextoccasionwhenIheardfromtheMinister，theDoctor’sgrimreplyprovedtobeaprophecyfulfilled。
Whenweaddressexpressionsofcondolencetobereavedfriends，theprinciplesofpopularhypocrisysanctionindiscriminatelyingasadutywhichweowetothedead——nomatterwhattheirlivesmayhavebeen——becausetheyaredead。Withinmyownlittlesphere，Ihavealwaysbeensilent，whenIcouldnotoffertoafflictedpersonsexpressionsofsympathywhichIhonestlyfelt。
TohavecondoledwiththeMinisteronthelossthathehadsustainedbythedeathofawoman，self—betrayedtomeasshamelesslydeceitful，andpitilesslydeterminedtoreachherowncruelends，wouldhavebeentodegrademyselfbytellingadeliberatelie。Iexpressedinmyanswerallthatanhonestmannaturallyfeels，whenheiswritingtoafriendindistress；
carefullyabstainingfromanyallusiontothememoryofhiswife，ortotheplacewhichherdeathhadleftvacantinhishousehold。
Myletter，Iamsorrytosay，disappointedandoffendedhim。Hewrotetomenomore，untilyearshadpassed，andtimehadexerteditsinfluenceinproducingamoreindulgentframeofmind。Theselettersofalaterdatehavebeenpreserved，andwillprobablybeused，attherighttime，forpurposesofexplanationwithwhichI
maybeconnectedinthefuture。
ThecorrespondentwhomIhadnowlostwassucceededbyagentlemanentirelyunknowntome。
Thosereasonswhichinducedmetoconcealthenamesofpersons，whileIwasrelatingeventsintheprison，donotapplytocorrespondencewithastrangerwritingfromanotherplace。Imay，therefore，mentionthatMr。Dunboyne，ofFairmount，onthewestcoastofIreland，wasthewriteroftheletternowaddressedtome。Heproved，tomysurprise，tobeoneoftherelationswhomthePrisonerundersentenceofdeathhadnotcaredtosee，whenI
offeredhertheopportunityofsayingfarewell。Mr。Dunboynewasabrother—in—lawofthemurderess。Hehadmarriedhersister。
Hiswife，heinformedme，haddiedinchildbirth，leavinghimbutoneconsolation——aboy，whoalreadyrecalledallthatwasbrightestandbestinhislostmother。Thefatherwasnaturallyanxiousthatthesonshouldneverbecomeacquaintedwiththedisgracethathadbefallenthefamily。
Theletterthenproceededintheseterms：
\"Iheardyesterday，forthefirsttime，bymeansofanoldnewspaper—cuttingsenttomebyafriend，thatthemiserablewomanwhosufferedtheignominyofpublicexecutionhasleftaninfantchild。Canyoutellmewhathasbecomeoftheorphan？Ifthislittlegirlis，asIfear，notwellprovidedfor，Ionlydowhatmywifewouldhavedoneifshehadlived，byofferingtomakethechild’swelfaremyespecialcare。Iamwillingtoplaceherinanestablishmentwellknowntome，inwhichshewillbekindlytreated，welleducated，andfittedtoearnherownlivinghonorablyinlaterlife。
\"Ifyoufeelsomesurpriseatfindingthatmygoodintentionstowardthisill—fatednieceofminedonotgotothelengthofreceivingherasamemberofmyownfamily，Ibegtosubmitsomeconsiderationswhichmayperhapsweighwithyouastheyhaveweighedwithme。
\"Inthefirstplace，thereisatleastapossibility——howevercarefullyImighttrytoconcealit——thatthechild’sparentagewouldsoonerorlaterbediscovered。Inthesecondplace（andassumingthattheparentagehadbeensuccessfullyconcealed），ifthisgirlandmyboygrewuptogether，thereisanotherpossibilitytobereckonedwith：theymightbecomeattachedtoeachother。Doesthefatherlivewhowouldallowhissonignorantlytomarrythedaughterofaconvictedmurderess？I