Cecilia, when she first read her husband's letter, could not clearly grasp its import.

Could it be that he truly intended to leave her forever? Surely not . . . they had been married but a few months -- a few months of inexpressible love and confidence; and it was impossible that he should intend they be thus parted.

But when she had read it again and again, the words pressed themselves upon her with greater and greater weight:

"Pray believe it," said the words in her husband's hand. "We have now parted forever "