did I know he was so brutal. Notice that, according to him, if a
wife leaves her husband it must be for a rival. He does not
understand how much she can hate him, body and soul, and with no
thought of a lover; that her loathing needs no other passion to
inflame it, and that the touch of his clean finger may be worse to
her than a leper's embrace.

When I had written so far I was afraid. I knelt down and cried to
our Father who is in Heaven.--Your loving daughter,

ESTHER.


ELY, 28th March 1839.

You must not reply. I have always tried not to answer back if it
will do no good. In a way, I am not sorry he has written in this
style to you. It proves that the leading I had was true. I feared
cruel claws ever since I first set eyes on him notwithstanding he
was so even-tempered, and I am glad he has not shown them till you
are safe in Blackdeep. I know what you will have to go through in
time to come, but for all that I am sure I am right and that you are
right. I am more sure than ever. I am sorry for him, but he will
soon settle down and rejoice that you have gone. That spiteful word
about my religion does not disturb me. I have my own religion. I
have brought up my children in it. I have taught them to fear God
and to love the Lord Jesus Christ, who has stood by me in all my
troubles and guided me in all my straits whenever I have been
willing to wait His time. I bless God, my dear child, that you have
not gone away from your mother's faith--ay, and your father's too--