Prayed for poor (b) Alfred."
_"March 5th._--Sadly disappointed in J. D. I did hope he was embittering
the world to her by degrees. But for some time past she writes in
ill-concealed spirits.
"Another friend, after seeking rest in the world, is now seeking it in
ritualism. May both be drawn from their rotten reeds to the cross
'And oh this moral may my heart retain,
All hopes of happiness on earth are vain.'"
_"March 6th._--The cat is out of the bag. She is corresponding with
Alfred: indeed she makes no secret of it. Wrote her a (c) faithful
letter. Received a short reply, saying I had made her unhappy, and
begging me to suspend my judgment till she could undeceive me without
giving me too much pain. What mystery is this?"
_March 7th._--Alfred announces his unalterable determination to marry
Julia. I read the letter to papa directly. He was silent for a long time:
and then said: 'All the worse for both of them.' It was all I could do to
suppress a thrill of carnal complacency at the thought this might in time
pave the way to another union. Even to think of that now is a sin.
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