XXIII

goinghometo-dayIamsorrytoleaveyou,butImustgo:itisagreatwhilesinceIhaveseenmyfatherandmother.IamgoingtosendJamesforwardwithmyhuntersimmediatelyifyouhaveanyletter,therefore,hecantakeit.IshallnotbeathomemyselftillWednesdayorThursday,asIshallgothroughLondon,whereIhavebusinessbutbeforeIleaveyou,”hecontinued,speakinginalowertone,andwithstillgreaterenergy,“Imustwarnyouofonething—donotletFredericaVernonbemadeunhappybythatMartin.Hewantstomarryherhermotherpromotesthematch,butshecannotenduretheideaofit.BeassuredthatIspeakfromthefullestconvictionofthetruthofwhatIsayIknowthatFredericaismadewretchedbySirJames’scontinuinghere.Sheisasweetgirl,anddeservesabetterfate.Sendhimawayimmediatelyheisonlyafool:butwhathermothercanmean,Heavenonlyknows!Goodbye,”headded,shakingmyhandwithearnestness“IdonotknowwhenyouwillseemeagainbutrememberwhatItellyouofFrederi