Bill shook his head (and then realised it hurt). He suspected that it had gone wrong with him. Wasn't he the one who had brought bad blood in? But he didn't want to reflect on or discuss it.

He picked up the letter and read it, slowly, for he was a poor reader.

He sighed. "At least the lass had the decency to inform us... after the facts. That's more than we can say for Joe. Curse that selfish fool."