I have studied his character well, and know that he will not pass this conduct over lightly." Even while this was said a servant, who had been over to the village, brought in a letter and handed it to Mr.Delancy, who, recognizing in the superscription the handwriting of his daughter's husband, broke the seal hurriedly.

The letter was in these words: "MY DEAR SIR: As your daughter has left me, no doubt with the purpose of finally abandoning the effort to live in that harmony so essential to happiness in married life, I shall be glad if you will choose some judicious friend to represent her in consultation with a friend whom I will select, with a view to the arrangement of a separation, as favorable to her in its provisions as it can possibly be made.

In view of the peculiarity of our temperaments, we made a great error in this experiment.

My hope was that love would be counselor to us both; that the law of mutual forbearance would have rule.

But we are both too impulsive, too self-willed, too undisciplined.