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to the imperfect register of her birth。 〃I am not aware；〃 he
wrote； 〃whether I have； or have not； committed an offense against
the Law。 In any case； I may hope to have made atonement by
obedience to the Gospel。〃
Six weeks passed； and I heard from my reverend friend once more。
His second letter presented a marked contrast to the first。 It
was written in sorrow and anxiety； to inform me of an alarming
change for the worse in his wife's health。 I showed the letter to
my medical colleague。 After reading it he predicted the event
that might be expected； in two words：Sudden death。
On the next occasion when I heard from the Minister； the Doctor's
grim reply proved to be a prophecy fulfilled。
When we address expressions of condolence to bereaved friends；
the principles of popular hypocrisy sanction indiscriminate lying
as a duty which we owe to the deadno matter what their lives
may have beenbecause they are dead。 Within my own little
sphere； I have always been silent； when I could not offer to
afflicted persons expressions of sympathy which I honestly felt。
To have condoled with the Minister on the loss that he had
sustained by the death of a woman； self…betrayed to me as
shamelessly deceitful； and pitilessly determined to reach her own
cruel ends； would have been to degrade myself by telling a
deliberate lie。 I expressed in my answer all that an honest man
naturally feels； when he is writing to a friend in distress；
carefully abstaining from any allusion to the memory of his wife；
or to the place which her death had left vacant in his household。
My letter； I am sorry to say； disappointed and offended him。 He
wrote to me no more； until years had passed； and time had exerted
its influence in producing a more indulgent frame of mind。 These
letters of a later date have been preserved； and will probably be
used； at the right time； for purposes of explanation with which I
may be connected in the future。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
The correspondent whom I had now lost was succeeded by a
gentleman entirely unknown to me。
Those reasons which induced me to conceal the names of persons；
while I was relating events in the prison； do not apply to
correspondence with a stranger writing from another place。 I may；
therefore； mention that Mr。 Dunboyne； of Fairmount； on the west
coast of Ireland； was the writer of the letter now addressed to
me。 He proved； to my surprise； to be one of the relations whom
the Prisoner under sentence of death had not cared to see； when I
offered her the opportunity of saying farewell。 Mr。 Dunboyne was
a brother…in…law of the murderess。 He had married her sister。
His wife； he informed me； had died in childbirth； leaving him but
one consolationa boy； who already recalled all that was
brightest and best in his lost mother。 The father was naturally
anxious that the son should never become acquainted with the
disgrace that had befallen the family。
The letter then proceeded in these terms：
〃I heard yesterday； for the first time； by means of an old
newspaper…cutting sent to me by a friend； that the miserable
woman who suffered the ignominy of public execution has left an
infant child。 Can you tell me what has become of the orphan？ If
this little girl is； as I fear； not well provided for； I only do
what my wife would have done if she had lived； by offering to
make the child's welfare my especial care。 I am willing to place
her in an establishment well known to me； in which she will be
kindly treated； well educated； and fitted to earn her own living
honorably in later life。
〃If you feel some surprise at finding that my good intentions
toward this ill…fated niece of mine do not go to the length of
receiving her as a member of my own family； I beg to submit some
considerations which may perhaps weigh with you as they have
weighed with me。
〃In the first place； there is at least a possibilityhowever
carefully I might try to conceal itthat the child's parentage
would sooner or later be discovered。 In the second place （and
assuming that the parentage had been successfully concealed）； if
this girl and my boy grew up together； there is another
possibility to be reckoned with： they might become attached to
each other。 Does the father live who would allow his son
ignorantly to marry the daughter of a convicted murderess？ I
should have no alternative but to part them cruelly by revealing
the truth。〃 The letter ended with some complimentary expressions
addressed to myself。 And the question was： how ought I to answer
it？
My correspondent had strongly impressed me in his favor； I could
not doubt that he was an honorable man。 But the interest of the
Minister in keeping his own benevolent action secure from the
risk of discoveryincreased as that interest was by the filial
relations of the two children toward him； now publicly
establishedhad； as I could not doubt； the paramount claim on
me。 The absolutely safe course to take was to admit no one；
friend or stranger； to our confidence。 I replied； expressing
sincere admiration of Mr。 Dunboyne's motives； and merely
informing him that the child was already provided for。
After that； I heard no more of the Irish gentleman。
It is perhaps hardly necessary to add that I kept the Minister in
ignorance of my correspondence with Mr。 Dunboyne。 I was too well
acquainted with my friend's sensitive and self…tormenting nature
to let him know that a relative of the murderess was living； and
was aware that she had left a child。
A last event remains to be related； before I close these pages。
During the year of which I am now writing； our Chaplain added one
more to the many examples that I have seen of his generous
readiness to serve his friends。 He had arranged to devote his
annual leave of absence to a tour among the English Lakes； when
he received a letter from a clergyman resident in London； whom he
had known from the time when they had been school…fellows。 This
old friend wrote under circumstances of the severest domestic
distress； which made it absolutely necessary that he should leave
London for a while。 Having failed to find a representative who
could relieve him of his clerical duties； he applied to the
Chaplain to recommend a clergyman who might be in a position to
help him。 My excellent colleague gave up his holiday…plans
without hesitation； and went to London himself。
On his return； I asked if he had seen anything of some
acquaintances of his and of mine； who were then visitors to the
metropolis。 He smiled significantly when he answered me。
〃I have a card to deliver from an acquaintance whom you have not
mentioned；〃 he said； 〃and I rather think it will astonish you。〃
It simply puzzled me。 When he gave me the card； this is what I
found printed on it：
〃MRS。 TENERUGGEN （OF SOUTH BEVELAND）。〃
〃Well？〃 said the Chaplain。
〃Well；〃 I answered； 〃I never even heard of Mrs。 Tenbruggen； of
South Beveland。 Who is she？〃
〃I married the lady to a foreign gentleman； only last week； at my
friend's church；〃 the Chaplain replied。 〃Perhaps you may remember
her maiden name？〃
He mentioned the name of the dangerous creature who had first
presented herself to me； in charge of th