To tell me that I had already a wife is empty mockery: you know now that I had but a hideous demon.

I was wrong to attempt to deceive you; but I feared a stubbornness that exists in your character.

I feared early instilled prejudice: I wanted to have you safe before hazarding confidences.

This was cowardly: I should have appealed to your nobleness and magnanimity at first, as I do now--opened to you plainly my life of agony--described to you my hunger and thirst after a higher and worthier existence--shown to you, not my _resolution_ (that word is weak), but my resistless _bent_ to love faithfully and well, where I am faithfully and well loved in return.

Then I should have asked you to accept my pledge of fidelity and to give me yours.