[Begin] 'Dear Sir' [for I would neither be too familiar nor too cold], 'The terms on which you and I have lived, intitles you to an explanation of my reasons for leaving you so abruptly; and I hope the generosity of my motive will incline you to overlook the seeming unkindness of the action.' [This you may assure yourself it will, when he comes to consider coolly]. 'The unhappiness that I occasioned in your family, by causing the separation of you and your wife, has, for a long time, been a thorn in my heart; and the more so, as besides the robbing her of your affections, I own, and take shame to myself in the confession' [how noble must he think this confession!], 'that those aspersions, which I threw on her, had not the least foundation in truth.' [This is truly great]. 'I always believed her perfectly innocent; but, if I could have had the least possible doubt of it before, I must now be confirmed in that opinion by Mr Faulkland, who can have no reason for excusing or concealing facts of this nature from me at present.' [Here she added of herself, repeating it first aloud to me], 'and I think the preference he has given me to her, now in her state of separation, is a convincing proof of this.' [An admirable argument] (her vanity would not let her slip this observation). [Proceed, madam]. 'The true reasons of my insinuations against her, were no other than that I could not bear to share your affections with any-body' [and a very sufficient reason too, which a man that loves can easily forgive]. 'I knew, that so long as she gave you no cause of complaint, you were too just to withdraw your whole heart from her, and nothing _but_ the whole would content me.' [Still you see you shew a great mind]. True, said she, going on; but my reason for leaving him without apprizing him of it, what are we to say for that? [Oh! nothing more _easy_ to execute: he will admire you the more for the reason _I_ shall give. Come]. 'My departing without first making you acquainted with my design, and going off with another person, may, at first sight, seem very strange; but, to tell you the real state of my heart, I found I could not trust to its firmness on the subject of parting with you. I loved you so, that it was with pain and grief I made the resolution; and I knew too well, that had you used any arguments, which to be sure you would have done, to dissuade me, I, like an easy fool, would have given up all my good designs.' [I am only afraid this will make him love you more than ever]. (She smiled as she continued to write). 'As for the other article'--(This I was more puzzled to excuse than the first; but, putting on a bold face, I said, Madam, I hope you will not condemn me here, while you excuse yourself: the saying you were _run away_ with, will knock all the rest on the head, and he may chuse whether he will believe that you really intended to break off with him or