of when I write it; but I will promise that not a word
shall be said to you to urge you in any way. I do not
suppose you will think it right that you should stay away
from friends whom you love, and who love you dearly, for
fear of a man who wants you to marry him. You are not
afraid of Mr. Gilmore, and I don't suppose that you are
going to shut yourself up all your life because Captain
Marrable has not a fortune of his own. Come at any rate.
If you find it unpleasant you shall go back just when you
please, and I will pledge myself that you shall not be
harassed by persuasions.

Yours most affectionately,

JANET FENWICK.

Frank has read this. He says that all I have said about
his being serious is a tarradiddle; but that nothing can
be more true than what I have said about your friends
loving you, and wishing to have you here again. If you
were here we might talk him over yet about the chapel.

To which, in the Vicar's handwriting, was added the word, "Never!"

It was two days before she showed this letter to her aunt--two days
in which she had thought much upon the subject. She knew well that
her aunt would counsel her to go to Bullhampton, and, therefore, she
would not mention the letter till she had made up her own mind.

"What will you do?" said her aunt.

"I will go, if you do not object."

"I certainly shall not object," said Miss Marrable.

Then Mary wrote a very short letter to her friend, which may as well,
also, be communicated to the reader:--

Loring, Thursday.

DEAR JANET,

I will go to you about the end of May; and yet, though I
have made up my mind to do so, I almost doubt that I am
not wise. If one could only ordain that things should
be as though they had never been! That, however, is
impossible, and one can only endeavour to live so as to
come as nearly as possible to such a state. I know that I
am confused; but I think you will understand what I mean.

I intend to be very full of energy about the chapel, and
I do hope that your brother-in-law will be able to prove
that Lord Trowbridge has been misbehaving himself. I never
loved Mr. Puddleham, who always seemed to look upon me
with wrath because I belonged to the Vicarage; and I
certainly should take delight in seeing him banished from
the Vicarage gate.

Always affectionately yours,

MARY LOWTHER.

CHAPTER XLVI.