wanted to know my reason.
When I came to render it, I did not know what reason I had
to give. The bishop is going, and he thought it very odd
that I should not go also, seeing that I was asked. I
know what my own darling will think, and I know that she
will not be pleased, and I must put off my defence till I
return to her from this ogre-land,--if ever I do get back
alive. But joking apart, Fanny, I think that I should
have been wrong to stand out, when so much was said about
it. I should have been seeming to take upon myself to
sit in judgement upon the duke. I doubt if there be a
single clergyman in the diocese, under fifty years of
age, who would have refused the invitation under such
circumstances,--unless it be Crawley, who is so mad on the
subject that he thinks it almost wrong to take a walk out
of his own parish. I must stay at Gatherum Castle over
Sunday week--indeed, we only go there on Friday. I have
written to Jones about the duties. I can make it up to
him, as I know he wishes to go into Wales at Christmas.
My wanderings will all be over then, and he may go for a
couple of months if he pleases. I suppose you will take my
classes in the school on Sunday, as well as your own; but
pray make them have a good fire. If this is too much for
you, make Mrs. Podgens take the boys. Indeed I think that
will be better.

Of course you will tell her ladyship of my whereabouts.
Tell her from me, that as regards the bishop, as well as
regarding another great personage, the colour has been
laid on perhaps a little too thickly. Not that Lady Lufton
would ever like him. Make her understand that my going to
the duke's has almost become a matter of conscience with
me. I have not known how to make it appear that it would
be right for me to refuse, without absolutely making a
party matter of it. I saw that it would be said, that I,
coming from Lady Lufton's parish, could not go to the Duke
of Omnium's. This I did not choose.

I find that I shall want a little more money before I
leave here, five or ten pounds--say ten pounds. If you
cannot spare it, get it from Davis. He owes me more than
that, a good deal. And now, God bless and preserve you, my
own love. Kiss my darling bairns for papa, and give them
my blessing.

Always and ever your own,

M. R.

And then there was written, on an outside