H.B."
It was a clever letter; Lady Honoria could not have devised one more
powerful to work on a woman like Beatrice. The same post that took it to
her took another from Geoffrey himself. It was long, though guarded, and
need not be quoted in its entirety, but it put the whole position before
her in somewhat veiled language, and ended by saying, "Marriage I cannot
give you, only life-long love. In other circumstances to offer this
would be an insult, but if things should be as a I fear, it is worth
your consideration. I do not say to you _come_, I say come _if you
wish_. No, Beatrice, I will not put this cruel burden of decision upon
you. I say _come!_ I do not command you to come, because I promised to
leave you uninfluenced. But I pray you to do so. Let us put an end to
this wretchedness, and count the world well lost as our price of love.
Come, dearest Beatrice--to leave me no more till death. I put my life
in your hands; if you take it up, whatever trouble you may have to face,
you will never lose my affection or esteem. Do not think of me, think of
yourself. You have given me your love as you once gave me my life.
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