Congratulating her on the birth of Melville, whom Effie says is "very pretty." He is usually incredulous of such statements, but intends to believe everything Effie says, therefore hoping that she will be careful in what she does say. It would be vain to try to thank her for entrusting him with Effie's happiness. To love her once is to love ever, with increasing love. She must be happy if she loves him as much as he loves her, but in some degree her happiness does depend on how much she loves him, else what may necessarily be a somewhat retired life might become irksome to her. His distrust of the strength of her affection in part caused his singular conduct at Bower's Well. It was caused not by false pride and fear of a refusal but by a wish to make certain that she loved him as he loves her since otherwise he felt that she might suffer from the reclusion from society which his health and pursuits might often necessitate. He was less ready to admit evidences of her affection because he does not understand how a woman could love him. Moreover at Bower's Well there was a change in her manner from four months before which he felt severely, and what Mrs. Gray said made him believe he could never gain the love necessary for Effie's happiness and his. He would have left Perth the following morning if Effie had not spoken to him that night in her old way. Now he believes that his love for her will balance the cruel sacrifices she will have to make. His hopes are as high and secure as earthly hopes can be. For both their sakes, he only wishes that his prospects and purposes in life were more fixed since now he can hardly promise or plan anything. He does think, however, that Mrs. Gray is wrong in keeping Effie the whole time until April. The parting would then be much less painful if Effie came to London for a visit about the middle of February. Though his mother's sight is so much impaired that she can write no more than a necessary word to him now and then, she much appreciated Mrs. Gray's letter. She will probably not be able to answer Effie's letter either. He is planning various climbs for Effie in Switzerland, but makes no definite plans until he sees how she bears fatigue. If she bears heat, they will venture to Aosta and Cormayeur, and will probably not spend more than a month in Chamouni. But what they do will depend on Effie's strength, and prudence. Her mother should impress on her the necessity of not overtaxing her strength. He is staying at Folkestone a day or two longer than expected, and Effie will probably not hear from him before Wednesday.
