"I feel that I could lament with Falkner the miserable catastrophe, and yet not curse him for bringing it about. Nay--as with such a man there can be no half sentiments--I feel that if we are thrown together, his noble qualities will win ardent sentiments of friendship; were not his victim my mother, there does not exist a man whose good opinion I should so eagerly seek and highly prize as that of Rupert Falkner. It is that fatal name which forms the barrier between me and charity--shutting me out, at the same time, from hope and love. "Thus incoherently I put down my thoughts as they rise--a tangled maze which I ask you to unravel. I will endeavour to abide by your decision, whatever it may be; yet I again ask you to pause. Is Elizabeth's happiness as deeply implicated as mine? if it be, can I abide by any sentence that shall condemn her to a wretchedness similar to that which has so long been an inmate of my struggling heart? no; sooner than inflict one pang on her, I will fly from the world. _We three_ will seek some far obscure retreat and be happy, despite the world's censure, and even your condemnation." Falkner's heart swelled within him as he read. He could not but admire Neville's candour--and he was touched by the feelings he expressed towards himself; but pride was stronger than regret, and prompted an instant and decisive reply. He rebelled against the idea that Gerard and Elizabeth should suffer through him, and thus he wrote:-- "You have appealed to Mrs. Raby; will you suffer me to answer that appeal, and to decide? I have a better right; for kind as she is, I have Elizabeth's welfare yet more warmly at heart. "The affection that she feels for you will endure to the end of her life--for her faithful heart is incapable of change; on you therefore depends her happiness, and you are called upon to make some sacrifice to ensure it. Come here, take her at my hand--it is all I ask--from that hour you shall never see me more--the injured and the injurer will separate; my fortunes are of my own earning, and I can bear them. You must compensate to my dear child for my loss--you must be father as well as husband--and speak kindly of me to her, or her heart will break. "We must be secret in our proceedings--mystery and deception are contrary to my nature--but I willingly adopt them for her sake. Mrs. Raby must not be trusted; but you and I love Elizabeth sufficiently even to sacrifice a portion of our integrity to secure her happiness. For her own sake we must blindfold her. She need never learn that we deceived her. She will naturally be separated from me for a short time--the period will be indefinitely prolonged--till new duties arise wholly to wean her from me--and I shall be forgotten.