ill he learned
that Miss Dunstable was herself the proprietress of the celebrated
Oil of Lebanon, invented by her late respected father, and patented
by him with such wonderful results in the way of accumulated fortune;
and Mrs. Proudie made him quite one of their party, talking to him
about all manner of Church subjects; and then at last, even Miss
Proudie smiled on him, when she learned that he had been thought
worthy of a bed at a duke's castle. And all the world seemed to be
open to him.

But he could not make himself happy that evening. On the next morning
he must write to his wife; and he could already see the look of
painful sorrow which would fall upon his Fanny's brow when she
learned that her husband was going to be a guest at the Duke of
Omnium's. And he must tell her to send him money, and money was
scarce. And then, as to Lady Lufton, should he send her some message,
or should he not? In either case he must declare war against her. And
then did he not owe everything to Lady Lufton? And thus in spite of
all his triumphs he could not get himself to bed in a happy frame of
mind.

On the next day, which was Friday, he postponed the disagreeable
task of writing. Saturday would do as well; and on Saturday morning,
before they all started for Barchester, he did write. And his letter
ran as follows:--

Chaldicotes,--November, 185--.

DEAREST LOVE,

You will be astonished when I tell you how gay we all are
here, and what further dissipations are in store for us.
The Arabins, as you supposed, are not of our party; but
the Proudies are,--as you supposed also. Your suppositions
are always right. And what will you think when I tell you
that I am to sleep at the palace on Saturday? You know
that there is to be a lecture in Barchester on that day.
Well; we must all go, of course, as Harold Smith, one of
our set here, is to give it. And now it turns out that we
cannot get back the same night because there is no moon;
and Mrs. Bishop would not allow that my cloth should be
contaminated by an hotel;--very kind and considerate, is
it not?

But I have a more astounding piece of news for you than
this. There is to be a great party at Gatherum Castle
next week, and they have talked me over into accepting an
invitation which the duke sent expressly to me. I refused
at first; but everybody here said that my doing so would
be so strange; and then they all