But I beg you will write to me soon.

I hope I shall not have overtried your patience.

Bear with me, if you can, and give me the encouragement I value." Jerome pondered long.

He looked anything but displeased: there was tenderness in his smile, and sympathy; something, too, of pride.

Very much against his usual practice, he wrote a reply the same day.
"So be it, my dear lad! I have no fault to find, no criticism to offer.
Your letter is an honest one, and it has much moved me.