So I took my bedroom candle
and went.
When I had reached my own room I locked the door lest by any chance I
should be disturbed; although that did not seem likely. I lit four
candles and made quite an illumination in the great, dim room. Then I
took the letter from where it had lain all day over my heart, and I set
it on the table in the candle-light. I got into a loose gown and
slippers with a kind of painful, yet sweet deliberation. Now that the
moment had come for my joy I dallied with it.
My first love-letter! I realized all at once that Theobald's fond,
boyish epistles had no real, man's love in them. I was only the dear
companion, the sister, to him. I was sure of it, else I had been very
unhappy.
Then I took the letter and held it to the candle-light with a throbbing
heart. And this is what I read:
"My dear Miss Bawn,
"For a moment I forgot my white head and my years, and for that
foolish presumption you must pardon me and never think less kindly
of me. From your old servant's lips I learned the truth: that you
had a lover of your own age, whom I pray God may be worthy of you.
After all, since my dream of treasure here was but a dream, I have
reconsidered my refusal, and shall join the expedition in search of
mere earthly treasure.
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