A young man is accused of a crime he did not commit, at least he does not believe he committed it. It fractures Christopher's relationship with the girl he loves, and he may not be able to recover. Jane Austen once wrote to her sister, "I will not say that your mulberry trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive." According to myth, mulberry trees are a symbol of star-crossed lovers. Some Jane Austen enthusiasts believe her mention of a mulberry tree in "Sense & Sensibility" to be Austen's coded reference to an unsuccessful love affair in her own life. In Christopher's own words, "I write this for Ellie and for myself. I love her but I cannot know the future, no one can, and I do not know if she will understand and accept what I say here. I pray she will. All I can do now is tell the truth."
