hom it is known, the history of
her long, patient suffering; of her submission to the heavy trial laid
upon her; of her thankful enjoyment of the blessings granted her; of her
loving endeavours to alleviate like suffering in others--will, I doubt
not, bring forth good fruit in other hearts and other lives."

Mr. Wintle at Culham was now an aged man, and his infirm health gave
much anxiety to Mrs. Gilbert. After she had left Oxford one or two of
her daughters were nearly always with their grandfather. One of his
latest letters, written from his Oxford lodgings, was to his favourite
Blossom.

_27th November 1845._

MY DEAR BLOSSOM--As I have gained the reputation of not caring for
what I do or say, why may I not scribble a scrawl to you containing
what is found uppermost in my memorandum box? Not having been
admitted a member of the Abingdon Literary and Scientific Society,
you must look rather for trifles from a bagatelle warehouse than
for graver subjects culled from the repository of useful and
entertaining knowledge. But previous to opening my budget let me
express a wish that I may soon hear from one of the numerous palace
scribes of your mother's faceache having left her, and that you are
all as well as the damps of November will permit of your being. As
you probably knew nothing of my opposite neighbour Chaundy,
hair-dresser and perfumer, perhaps you will nothing grieve at
hearing that he is moving from the Corn Market to the High Street,
nor will you be much interested in hearing that Mr. ---- tells his
Oxford tradesmen that as he deals with them, he expects they will
come to his shop and buy a pig of him. Possibly you may be amused
by hearing that Mr. A. and Dr. B. have nominated five select
preachers, all ultra low church, of whom Mr. C. is one, who takes
an annuity of L500 from his parishioners in Holy Well, in
preference to a living from his college. So would not I. [And so on
through three pages of gossip ending:] And now with love to you
all, affectionately am I yours, R. W.

In the spring of 1846 the Bishop and Mrs. Gilbert, with many but not all
the daughters, were in the Isle of Wight. Mary was again at Culham with
her grandfather, who was recovering from a serious illness, and had been
out "in a sedan chair." Bessie writes full accounts: "