You can scarcely fail to
understand why I have acted in this manner, and why I congratulate myself
and my dear wife on her departure from your house as on an escape from
imminent peril. It will be, I fear, little satisfaction to you to hear
that the doctors have pronounced your stepdaughter to be out of danger,
though still in very weak health. She is now comfortably established in a
temporary home, with her mother and Diana Paget; and in all probability
some months must elapse before she and I can begin our new life together.
To afford my darling girl the legal protection of marriage was the object
of this sudden and secret union. You, of all men, will most fully
comprehend how necessary such protection had become to ensure her safety.
"Should you, however, require farther enlightenment as to the motives
that prompted this step, Dr. Jedd will be the fittest person to give you
such information; and has expressed his willingness to answer any
questions you may please to put to him.
"For the rest, I beg to assure you that the rights of Mrs. Hawkehurst in
relation to the inheritance of the late John Haygarth's wealth will be as
carefully protected as those of Miss Halliday; nor will the hasty
marriage of this morning hinder the execution of any deed of settlement
calculated to guard her interests in the future.
"With this assurance, I remain, sir,
Your obedient servant,
VALENTINE HAWKEHURST.
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