of it has haunted me continually, and I have

sat down, again and again, in order to express

my penitence in writing, yet have feared to do so."

"I have no excuse to offer. It is not enough

to say that I meant only to pay a sportsman's

compliment, and to give you a momentary pleasure.

I ought to have known better. Nay, I cannot plead

ignorance, I did know better, yet acted as though

you were made of the same stuff as most of the

girls I have met. In offering what I did, I must