On my thirtieth birthday I wrote a letter to Fanny--that is her name--and begged her to be free.

Now, would you have done the same, or not ?' 'Really, I am not imaginative enough to put myself in such a position.
It would need a stupendous effort, at all events.' 'But was there anything gross in the proceeding ?' 'The lady took it ill ?' 'Not in the sense of being offended.

But she said it had caused her much suffering.

She begged me to consider _myself_ free.

She would remain Faithful, and if, in time to come, I cared to write to her again--After all these years, I can't speak of it without huskiness.