You wondered why I cried so whenever you spoke of it.

You know now.

To-day Miss Ludington told me that she intended to adopt me and leave me her fortune, so that I need feel under no necessity to marry you if I did not wish to.

Think of that, Paul! Can you conceive of any one so low, so base, as to be capable of taking advantage of such a heart?
As she was talking to me, I made up my mind that I must go to-night.
"This evening, when I was helping her to bed (I have been so glad to do all I could for her; it took away a little of my shame to see how happy I made her) she seemed so troubled because I could not keep my tears from falling.

When you read her this she will think her sympathy wasted.