That night, in the solitude of his chamber the doctor penned two letters; one for Rose and the other for Richard. In substance, the contents of each were much the same, for he told them all he had heard from Rose, and how, though it broke his heart to do so, he had given her up. “Deal very, very gently with her,” he wrote to Mr. Delafield, “for never was there a purer, gentler being, or one more worthy of your love than she. Then take her, and when your cup is overflowing with happiness, think sometimes of one, who, henceforth will be a lonely, wretched man.” The letters being written he put them away until such time as he should need them. Once he thought to talk with Richard face to face, but this he felt he could not do; so one morning about a week after the return of the family to Cedar Grove, and when Rose was out of danger, he pressed a burning kiss upon her forehead, and placing the letters on the little dressing bureau where they would attract the immediate attention of Mr. Delafield, who, he knew would soon be there, he went in quest of Mrs. Lansing, whom he bade good-bye as composedly as if no inward fire were consuming him. In much surprise, she asked why he left them so abruptly, and he replied, “something which has recently come to my knowledge makes it necessary for me to go.” “You will of course return ere long for Miss Lee,” continued the lady, who had no suspicion of the truth. “If _I_ do not come I shall send her brother as soon as she is able to be moved,” said he. “She does not know that I am going, for she would not understand me if I told her, so I leave it with you to tell her when you think she will comprehend it.” Then leaving a few directions as to how she must be treated, he hurried away, never looking back, and turning into a side street when in the distance he saw Mr. Delafield coming towards him. Half an hour afterward and the puffing engine, which now each day thundered into town, was bearing him away from a place whither he had come for a bride, and from which he bore only a crushed and aching heart. Scarcely had he left Rose’s chamber when a colored woman entered it to “set it to rights” as was her daily custom. She was near-sighted, and going up to the dressing-bureau, carelessly brushed off the letter directed to Richard! Falling behind the bureau, it lay concealed from view, while the negress proceeded with her duties, unconscious of the mischief she had done!