AletterfromMrs.ClibborntoGeneralSirCharlesClow,K.C.B.,8GladhornTerrace,Bath:
"DearCharles,—IamsogladtohearyouaresettledinyournewhouseinBath,anditismostkindtoaskusdown.IamdevotedtoBathonemeetssuchnicepeoplethere,andallone'sfriendswhomoneknewcenturiesago.Itissuchacomforttoseehowfearfullyoldthey'relooking!Idon'tknowwhetherwecanmanagetoacceptyourkindinvitation,butImustsayIshouldbegladofachangeafterthetrulyawfulthingsthathavehappenedhere.Ihavebeendreadfullyupsetallthewinter,andhavehadseveraltouchesofrheumatism,whichisathingIneversufferedfrombefore.
"IwroteandtoldyouofthesuddenandmysteriousdeathofpoorJamesParsons,afortnightbeforehewasgoingtomarrymydearMary.Heshothimselfaccidentallywhilecleaningagun—thatistosay,everyonethinksitwasanaccident.ButIamcertainitwasnothingofthekind.Eversincethedreadfulthinghappened—sixmonthsago—ithasbeenonmyconscience,andIassureyouthatthewholetimeIhavenotsleptawink.Mysufferingshavebeenhorrible!YouwillbesurprisedatthechangeinmeIambeginningtolooklikeanoldwoman.Itellyouthisinstrictconfidence.Ibelievehecommittedsuicide.Heconfessedthathelovedme,Charles.Ofcourse,ItoldhimIwasoldenoughtobehismotherbutloveisblind.WhenIthinkofthetragicendofpoorAlgyTurner,whopoisonedhimselfinIndiaformysake,Idon'tknowhowIshalleverforgivemyself.InevergaveJamestheleastencouragement,andwhenhesaidthathelovedme,IwassotakenabackthatInearlyfainted.Iamconvincedthatheshothimselfratherthanmarryawomanhedidnotlove,andwhatismore,mydaughter.Youcanimaginemyfe