e received a letter which greatly confirmed the suspicions
set on foot by Mrs. Proudie, and even shook his wife's faith in Lord
Dumbello. It was from a mere acquaintance, who in the ordinary course
of things would not have written to him. And the bulk of the letter
referred to ordinary things, as to which the gentleman in question
would hardly have thought of giving himself the trouble to write a
letter. But at the end of the note he said,--"of course you are aware
that Dumbello is off to Paris; I have not heard whether the exact day
of his return is fixed."

"It is true, then," said the archdeacon, striking the library table
with his hand, and becoming absolutely white about the mouth and
jaws.

"It cannot be," said Mrs. Grantly; but even she was now trembling.

"If it be so I'll drag him back to England by the collar of his coat,
and disgrace him before the steps of his father's hall." And the
archdeacon as he uttered the threat looked his character as an irate
British father much better than he did his other character as a
clergyman of the Church of England. The archdeacon had been greatly
worsted by Mrs. Proudie, but he was a man who knew how to fight his
battles among men--sometimes without too close a regard to his cloth.

"Had Lord Dumbello intended any such thing he would have written, or
got some friend to write by this time," said Mrs. Grantly. "It is
quite possible that he might wish to be off, but he would be too
chary of his name not to endeavour to do so with decency."

Thus the matter was discussed, and it appeared to them both to be so
serious that the archdeacon resolved to go at once to London. That
Lord Dumbello had gone to France he did not doubt; but he would find
some one in town acquainted with the young man's intentions, and
he would, no doubt, be able to hear when his return was expected.
If there were real reason for apprehension he would follow the
runagate to the Continent, but he would not do this without absolute
knowledge. According to Lord Dumbello's present engagements he was
bound to present himself in August next at Plumstead Episcopi, with
the view of then and there taking Griselda Grantly in marriage; but
if he kept his word in this respect no one had a right to quarrel
with him for going to Paris in the meantime. Most expectant
bridegrooms would, no doubt, under such circumstances, have declared
their intentions to their future brides; but if Lord Dumbello
were different from