TheillnessofourexcellentMissHalcombehasaffordedmetheopportunityofenjoyinganunexpectedintellectualpleasure. Irefertotheperusal(whichIhavejustcompleted)ofthisinterestingDiary. Therearemanyhundredpageshere.Icanlaymyhandonmyheart,anddeclarethateverypagehascharmed,refreshed,delightedme. Toamanofmysentimentsitisunspeakablygratifyingtobeabletosaythis. Yes!thesepagesareamazing. ThetactwhichIfindhere,thediscretion,therarecourage,thewonderfulpowerofmemory,theaccurateobservationofcharacter,theeasygraceofstyle,thecharmingoutburstsofwomanlyfeeling,haveallinexpressiblyincreasedmyadmirationofthissublimecreature,ofthismagnificentMarian. Thepresentationofmyowncharacterismasterlyintheextreme. Icertify,withmywholeheart,tothefidelityoftheportrait. IfeelhowvividanimpressionImusthaveproducedtohavebeenpaintedinsuchstrong,suchrich,suchmassivecoloursasthese. Ilamentafreshthecruelnecessitywhichsetsourinterestsatvariance,andopposesustoeachother. UnderhappiercircumstanceshowworthyIshouldhavebeenofMissHalcombe—howworthyMissHalcombewouldhavebeenofME. ThesentimentswhichanimatemyheartassuremethatthelinesIhavejustwrittenexpressaProfoundTruth. Thosesentimentsexaltmeaboveallmerelypersonalconsiderations. Ibearwitness,inthemostdisinterestedmanner,totheexcellenceofthestratagembywhichthisunparalleledwomansurprisedtheprivateinterviewbetweenPercivalandmyself—alsotothemarvellousaccuracyofherreportofthewholeconversationfromitsbeginningtoitsend. Thosesentimentshaveinducedmetooffertotheunimpressionabledoctorwhoattendsonhermyvastknowledgeofchemistry,andmyluminousexperienceofthemoresubtleresourceswhichmedicalandmagneticsciencehaveplacedatthedisposalofmankind. Hehashithertodeclinedtoavailhimselfofmyassistance.Miserableman! Finally,thosesentimentsdictatethelines—grateful,sympathetic,paternallines—whichappearinthisplace.Iclosethebook. Mystrictsenseofproprietyrestoresit(bythehandsofmywife)toitsplaceonthewriter’stable.Eventsarehurryingmeaway. Circumstancesareguidingmetoseriousissues. Vastperspectivesofsuccessunrollthemselvesbeforemyeyes. Iaccomplishmydestinywithacalmnesswhichisterribletomyself. Nothingbutthehomageofmyadmirationismyown. IdeposititwithrespectfultendernessatthefeetofMissHalcombe. Ibreathemywishesforherrecovery. Icondolewithherontheinevitablefailureofeveryplanthatshehasformedforhersister’sbenefit. Atthesametime,IentreathertobelievethattheinformationwhichIhavederivedfromherDiarywillinnorespecthelpmetocontributetothatfailure. ItsimplyconfirmstheplanofconductwhichIhadpreviouslyarranged. Ihavetothankthesepagesforawakeningthefinestsensibilitiesinmynature—nothingmore. Toapersonofsimilarsensibilitythissimpleassertionwillexplainandexcuseeverything. MissHalcombeisapersonofsimilarsensibility. InthatpersuasionIsignmyself, 
