Amelia's answer was almost equally formidable.

Lady Amelia de Courcy to Miss Augusta Gresham

Courcy Castle, June, 185--.

MY DEAR AUGUSTA,

I received your letter yesterday morning, but I have put
off answering it till this evening, as I have wished to
give it very mature consideration. The question is one
which concerns, not only your character, but happiness
for life, and nothing less than very mature consideration
would justify me in giving a decided opinion on the
subject.

In the first place, I may tell you, that I have not a word
to say against Mr Mortimer Gazebee. [When Augusta had read
as far as this, her heart sank within her; the rest was
all leather and prunella; she saw at once that the fiat
had gone against her, and that her wish to become Mrs
Mortimer Gazebee was not to be indulged.] I have known
him for a long time, and I believe him to be a very
respectable person, and I have no doubt a good man of
business. The firm of Messrs Gumption & Gazebee stands
probably quite among the first attorneys in London, and I
know that papa has a very high opinion of them.

All of these would be excellent arguments to use in favour
of Mr Gazebee as a suitor, had his proposals been made to
any one in his own rank of life. But you, in considering
the matter, should, I think, look on it in a very
different light. The very fact that you pronounce him to
be so much superior to other attorneys, shows in how very
low esteem you hold the profession in general. It shows
also, dear Augusta, how well aware you are that they are a
class of people among whom you should not seek a partner
for life.

My opinion is, that you should make Mr Gazebee
understand--very courteously, of course--that you cannot
accept his hand. You observe that he himself confesses,
that in marrying you he would seek a wife in a rank above
his own. Is it not, therefore, clear, that in marrying
him, you would descend to a rank below your own?

I shall be very sorry if this grieves you; but still
it will be better that you should bear the grief of
overcoming a temporary fancy, than take a step which may
so probably make you unhappy; and which some of your
friends would certainly regard as disgraceful.

It is not permitted to us, my dear Augusta, to think of
ourselves in such matters. As you truly say, if we were