"I never got a letter," he replied, quietly. "Abby, if I'd known- if I'd had any reason to believe anything but what I'd been told-" Thomas shook his head. "Please, Abby- please believe I never would have stayed away if I'd known. You- you were my entire world. I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you-" He cut himself off again. "The baby- my- our daughter. I- well, I suppose you've met her, haven't you?"