You shall
know why I came, and why I went away. It is due to my remembrance of old
times not to treat you like a stranger, although I can never again treat
you like a friend.
"I set forth on the third from the North to London. My only object in
taking this long journey was to see Norah. I had been suffering for many
weary weeks past such remorse as only miserable women like me can feel.
Perhaps the suffering weakened me; perhaps it roused some old forgotten
tenderness--God knows!--I can't explain it; I can only tell you that I
began to think of Norah by day, and to dream of Norah by night, till I
was almost heartbroken. I have no better reason than this to give for
running all the risks which I ran, and coming to London to see her. I
don't wish to claim more for myself than I deserve; I don't wish to
tell you I was the reformed and repenting creature whom _you_ might have
approved. I had only one feeling in me that I know of. I wanted to
put my arms round Norah's neck, and cry my heart out on Norah's bosom.
Childish enough, I dare say. Something might have come of it; nothing
might have come of it--who knows?
"I had no means of finding Norah without your assistance.
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