I loved this young man too; but, now I know him"-- then he actually thrust the letter into the fire.
But this was too much.

Bella shrieked at the act, and put her hand to her heart, and shrieked again.

"Ah! you'll kill us, you'll kill us both!" she cried.

"Poor Charles! Poor Bella! You don't love your child--you have no pity." And, for the first time, her misery was violent.

She writhed and wept, and at last went into violent hysterics, and frightened that stout old warrior more than cannon had ever frightened him; and presently she became quiet, and wept at his knees, and begged his forgiveness, and said he was wiser than she was, and she would obey him in everything, only he must not be angry with her if she could not live.
Then the stout admiral mingled his tears with hers, and began to realize what deep waters of affliction his girl was wading in.
Yet he saw no way out but firmness.