"This is the worst passage I have come to yet; still I was quite prepared for it. I gave Robert up, and gave him up to Shirley, the first day I heard she was come, the first moment I saw her--rich, youthful, and lovely. She has him now. He is her lover. She is his darling. She will be far more his darling yet when they are married. The more Robert knows of Shirley the more his soul will cleave to her. They will both be happy, and I do not grudge them their bliss; but I groan under my own misery. Some of my suffering is very acute. Truly I ought not to have been born; they should have smothered me at the first cry."

"This is the worst time I have come to yet; still I am prepared for it. I gave Robert up to Shirley, the first moment I saw her - rich, youthful, and lovely. She has him now. He is her lover. She is his darling. When they are married, they will both be happy, and I do not grudge them their bliss; but I groan under my own acute misery. Truly I ought not to have been born; they should have smothered me at the first cry."
