diff --git a/rope.sml b/rope.sml
index 6a6e08f..e403662 100644
--- a/rope.sml
+++ b/rope.sml
@@ -348,5 +348,10 @@ fun del start_idx end_idx rope =
         end
     | _ => raise Empty
 
-
-            
+fun delete start length rope =
+  let
+    val finish = start + length
+    val (t, _) = del start finish rope
+  in
+    t
+  end