I have an object in life, and, dear as you are to me--THAT I will not pretend to deny--I can never allow even YOU to interfere with it.

So be warned in time.

Go back quietly by the next steamer.
"Your ever attached and grateful, "HILDA." I read it twice through with a little thrill of joy.

Did any man ever court so strange a love?
Her very strangeness drew me.

But go back by the next steamer! I felt sure of one thing: Hilda was far too good a judge of character to believe that I was likely to obey that mandate.
I will not trouble you with the remaining stages of my quest.