ices or with his. The quarrel
between myself and James was due almost entirely to James'
inability to let me and my opinions alone.

I am far from being a rich man, in fact I may say at once that I am
scarcely even "comfortably off" as the phrase goes. It would
therefore be outside my capacity to undertake the expense of any
elaborate education for your son; but my own school, which while it
does not pretend to compete with some of the fashionable
establishments of the time is I venture to assert a first class
school and well able to send your son into the world at the age of
sixteen as well equipped, and better equipped than he would be if
he went to one of the famous public schools. I possess some
influence with a firm of solicitors, and I have no doubt that when
my nephew, who is I believe now twelve years old, has had the
necessary schooling I shall be able to secure him a position as an
articled clerk, from which if he is honest and industrious he may
be able to rise to the position of a junior partner. If you have
saved anything from the sale of your father's effects I should
advise you to invest the sum. However small it is, you will find
the extra money useful, for as I remarked before I shall not be
able to afford to do more than lodge and feed you both, educate
your son, find him in clothes, and start him in a career on the
lines I have already indicated. My local informant tells me that
you have kept back a certain amount of your father's furniture in
order to take lodgings elsewhere. As this will now be unnecessary I
hope that you will sell the rest. Haverton House is sufficiently
furnished, and we should not be able to find room for any more
furniture. I suggest your coming to us next Friday. It will be
easiest for you to take the fast train up to Paddington when you
will be able to catch the 6.45 to Slowbridge arriving at 7.15. We
usually dine at 7.30, but on Friday dinner will be at 8 p.m. in
order to give you plenty of time. Helen sends her love. She would
have written also, but I assured her that one letter was enough,
and that a very long one.

Your affectionate brother-in-law,

Henry Lidderdale.

Mrs. Lidderdale would no doubt have criticized this letter more sharply
if she had not regarded it as inspired, almost actually wri