Sink or Swim? , Volume III by Matilda Charlotte Houstoun

In the mean while Honor, unconscious of the events that had occurred, / and the calamities which had befallen those in whom she was so deeply / interested, had supported for another weary night and day the suspense / which she found hourly more difficult of endurance. Then the courage / that had hitherto supported her began to flag, and she half / resolved -- wholly objectionable as was the plan, and revolting to every / feeling of womanly modesty -- to endeavour by inquiry at Arthur's house to / obtain some information concerning him. That some evil, some sudden / accident or grievous sickness, had overtaken her only friend, Honor / could not but believe; and it was this belief, joined to a certain pride / which lingered in her still (for, after all, Arthur _might_ be simply / false), that prevented her from having recourse to her former / plan -- namely, that of writing to Arthur at his house or at his club. To / sally forth after dark; to call a cab, and to be driven to within a few / yards of Mr. Duberly's house; and when there to make a few insignificant / inquiries of the servant which might lead to something like elucidation / of her doubts and fears, seemed a plan not very difficult of execution; / and Honor was still pondering on its expediency when to her surprise / (for she had ceased to expect such consolations) a letter was put into / her hand by Mrs. Casey -- a letter, too, which she perceived at once was / from Arthur Vavasour.

Hurrying with her treasure into the inner room, which was her / bedchamber, and utterly regardless of Mrs. Casey's feelings as a friend / and would-be confidante, Honor tore open the envelope, when the first / writing that met her eye was her own! Casting the note directed by / herself impatiently on one side, she opened another inclosure -- one of / deeply-bordered mourning-paper, and read as follows: