Almost late. O.O

I was able to dine with the family, and then returned to my bed afterwards, asking for privacy. Staring at the letters, the dates written on the parcels, and still sealed. Weighing each in my hand, they were light, though one had some sort of object inside.

The first, was three days after my trek home. Helen had said she (or perhaps her cousin) had delivered them, which made sense for the distances between the two places. I opened it, and saw neat handwriting, addressed to me.

"I must apologize. I understand that more than one apology is in order. When you find you can stand the sight of me again, I will be an honest woman. I will lay out all that hasn't been lain out to you before, and I will explain all that has been confused. I have gotten some explanation for your outburst.

For all the calmness you have shown me, and all the kindness, I owe more than an apology to you my friend. If it were possible, I would take the world and all its creatures, man and animal, and I would bring us all back in time, to our first meeting. I would tell you all, at the first moment I saw you.

I would not hesitate, or hold back as I have these past days. I would keep you away from Almore, and things would have been peaceful between you and I. And whether you regard this letter as the ramblings of a silly young woman, so then you may. But please, do me one more kindness if you can, Sir, and meet with me."

She signed her name.

I read this letter over and over. Not sure what to think, but holding the other envelope in hand, it seemed heavier than it had before. I opened it, and saw it had come three days later than the first.

"You are ill! Mabie had told me when she returned. From leaving Almore as you did, and in such weather! I hope only that you recover, and will be back to the bright young man I remember you as, or as bright as you eve had been, My Friend. Once you are well again, I hope you shall humor my wish to speak with you again, but for now, I will leave you in peace.

I will not trouble you with a very long letter, and will leave on a not of good will."

Indeed she did. I eyed the last one. It seemed the heaviest. The fullest, and I stared at it in hand for sometime. Whatever object it had inside, and what it's contents were, I was hesitant to discover. Patience and kindness, indeed. I wondered about her use of "honest woman", it seemed out-of-place, as I noticed many of her words seemed. Not for their terminology, but the use of them, in the context they were being used.

I thought of Adele, and wondered should I not reply to her first? Or, perhaps set my thoughts together. I rose from bed, and looked out the window, then walked about the room. I then sat at my desk, and began to write to Adele. Why not? I needed to gather my own thoughts, see if I was still articulate after my bout of sickness. And I didn't feel like reading Alice's letter, not just then.

"My dear Adele,

It it well to hear from you, and your husband. When I write this to you, it is after I have gotten over my own dance with illness. The result of my foolishness, I have walked some distance in a storm. This is the first in two weeks I have felt coherent and lucid.

Why I had done so, I wish to tell you. Perhaps I will tell you all things, in search of advice, or for one other being to hear my adventures (if it is at all proper for them to be called that) and you have made clear you wish for me to be completely candid with you as you have been with me...

Many thanks for R & R! *Attention* The next one is going to be a few days late, and I am extremely sorry!