Stephen drew the letter from his pocket slowly and reluctantly.
Una saw it and shivered.
“It is from him; give it to me,” she said.
And she held out her hand.
Stephen took it in his, and held it for a moment.
“Wait—for Heaven’s sake wait,” he murmured, with agitation. “I meant to break it to you—to explain——”
“Give it to me,” was all she said, and she shook his hand off impatiently.
“Take it,” said Stephen, with a tremor in his voice, “take it, and would to Heaven he had found some other messenger to bear it.”
Una took the letter and slowly but steadily carried it to another part of the room.
There she stood and looked at it as if she were waiting to gain strength to open it.