Whether I shall go back to Roper's to-night will depend on what Fisher says after the interview.
Good-bye, old fellow! I hope you are enjoying yourself, and that L.D.is quite well.
Your sincere friend, JOSEPH CRADELL.
John Eames read this letter over twice before he opened that from Amelia.

He had never yet received a letter from Miss Roper; and felt very little of that ardour for its perusal which young men generally experience on the receipt of a first letter from a young lady.

The memory of Amelia was at the present moment distasteful to him; and he would have thrown the letter unopened into the fire, had he not felt it might be dangerous to do so.

As regarded his friend Cradell, he could not but feel ashamed of him,--ashamed of him, not for running away from Mr Lupex, but for excusing his escape on false pretences.
And then, at last, he opened the letter from Amelia.

"Dearest John," it began; and as he read the words, he crumpled the paper up between his fingers.