The details of the whole affair are too horrible to dwell upon here, but I have said enough to show you what sort of person it is who is at present entrusted with the care of your own son, and allowed to associate on a footing of equality with your niece, Miss Atherton.

I can assure you it is very painful to me to write this, for I know how it will shock you.

But I feel my conscience would not give me peace till I told you all.

May I now ask one special favour from you?
It is well known, and you probably have noticed it yourself, that Jeffreys and I naturally dislike one another.

But I want you to believe that I write this, not because I dislike Jeffreys, but because I like you all, and feel that Percy particularly is in peril.