othelpaskingyoutocomehere.ItisnotsoveryoftenIhaveaskedyouanything.Docome.Iwillmeetyouatthestation,andyouwillhavenotroubleorbother—everythingisperfectlysimple,andCook’sInterpretersareeverywhere.I’msureyouwouldenjoyyourselfsomuch.—Ifyouloveme,come.
BERTHA.
CourtLeys,Blackstable,Kent,
May30.
MydearestBertha,—SorryIhaven’tansweredyoursof25thinst.before,butI’vebeenuptomyeyesinwork.Youwouldn’tthinktherecouldbesomuchtodoonafarmatthistimeofyear,unlessyousawitwithyourowneyes.Ican’tpossiblygetawaytoParis,andbesidesIcan’tstomachtheFrench.Idon’twanttoseetheircapital,andwhenIwantaholiday,London’sgoodenoughforme.You’dbettercomebackhere,peopleareaskingafteryou,andtheplaceseemsalltopsy-turvywithoutyou.LovetoAuntP.—Inhaste,youraffectionatehusband,
E.CRADDOCK.
41RuedesEcoliers,Paris,
June1.
Mydearest,dearestEddie,—Youdon’tknowhowdisappointedIwastogetyourletterandhowIlongedforit.Whateveryoudo,don’tkeepmewaitingsolongforananswer.Iimaginedallsortsofthings—thatyouwereillordying.Iwasonthepointofwiring.Iwantyoutopromisemethatifyouareeverill,youwillletmeknow.IfyouwantmeurgentlyIshallbepleasedtocome.ButdonotthinkthatIcanevercomebacktoCourtLeysforgood.SometimesIfeelillandweakandIlongforyou,butIknowImustnotgiveway.I’msure,foryourgoodaswellasformine,Imustneverrisktheunhappinessofouroldlifeagain.Itwastoodegrading.WithfirmmindandtheutmostresolutionIswearthatIwillnever,neverreturntoCourtLeys.—Youraffectionateandlovingwife,
BERTHA.
Telegram
GareduNord,9.50a.m.,June2.
Craddock,CourtLeys,Blackstable.
Arriving7.25to-night.—BERTHA.
41RuedesEcoliers,Paris.
MydearyoungFriend,—Iamperturbed.Bertha,asyouknow,hasforthelastsixweekslived