He hoped it might be trustworthy.
Among his correspondence in the morning was a letter from Emma Vine.
He opened it last; anyone observing him would have seen with what reluctance he began to read it.
'My dear Richard,' it ran, 'I write to thank you for the money.

I would very much rather have had a letter from you, however short a one.

It seems long since you wrote a real letter, and I can't think how long since I have seen you.

But I know how full of business you are, dear, and I'm sure you would never come to London without telling me, because if you hadn't time to come here, I should be only too glad to go to Highbury, if only for one word.

We have got some mourning dresses to make for the servants of a lady in Islington, so that is good news.