He read the whole terrible story through, and thought, as well as he could, over it, before he remembered the second and still unopened letter.
But no sooner had he opened and read this, than the news which had just before seemed to bring the most fearful realities of life and death so near to him, faded away almost out of his recollection to make way for the really personal interest of this calamity.

Mrs.Costello wrote, "I have done wrong; and I should feel more difficulty, perhaps, in asking you to forgive me, if I did not, with you, have to regret the bitter disappointment of my hopes and wishes.

You and Lucia must not meet again, unless, or until, you can do so without any thought of each other except as old playfellows and friends.

This sounds cruel, I know, and unreasonable,--all the more so after the confidence there has been between us lately; but you must believe me when I say that I have tried, more than I ought, to keep for myself the consolation of thinking that my darling would some day be safe in your care, and that this consolation has been torn from me.

But what can I say to you?
My dear boy, only less dear to me than Lucia, I know you will, you _must_, blame me, and yet it is for your sake and for that of my own honour that I separate you from us.