And she made him no reproaches, when that past action of his had caused the finish of her life's happiness! Verily, his niece was a noble woman, and, with deepest homage, as he led her to the door he bent down and kissed her forehead; and no one in the world who knew him would have believed that she felt it wet with tears.
When she got to her room she remembered she still carried some note, and she at last looked at the superscription.

It was in Tristram's writing.
In spite of her grief and her numbness to other things it gave her a sharp emotion.

She opened it quickly and read its few cold words.

Then it seemed as if her knees gave way under her, as at Montfitchet that day when Laura Highford had made her jealous.

She could not think clearly, nor fully understand their meaning; only one point stood out distinctly.
He must see her to arrange for their separation.