But he did not wish to insult, nor to punish her further.

He would willingly have withdrawn the punishment under which she was groaning could he have done so without self-abasement.

Or he might write as she had done,--advocating his own cause with all his strength, using that last one strong argument,--"there should not have been a moment." But there would be something repulsive to his personal dignity in the continued correspondence which this would produce.

"The Duke of Omnium regrets to say, in answer to Mrs.
Finn's letter, that he thinks no good can be attained by a prolonged correspondence." Such, or of such kind, he thought must be his answer.

But would this be a fair return for the solicitude shown by her to his uncle, for the love which had made her so patient a friend to his wife, for the nobility of her own conduct in many things?
Then his mind reverted to certain jewels,--supposed to be of enormous value,--which were still in his possession though they were the property of this woman.