y feelings has clearly
proved that my only course is to address you by letter, and at once.
Whether the subject of my communication be acceptable to you or not, I
can at least assure you that to suppress it would be far less natural,
and upon the whole less advisable, than to speak out frankly, even if
afterwards I hold my peace for ever.

'The great change in my experience during the past year or two--the
change, that is, which has resulted from my advancement to a
bishopric--has frequently suggested to me, of late, that a
discontinuance in my domestic life of the solitude of past years was a
question which ought to be seriously contemplated. But whether I
should ever have contemplated it without the great good fortune of my
meeting with you is doubtful. However, the thing has been considered
at last, and without more ado I candidly ask if you would be willing
to give up your life at Welland, and relieve my household loneliness
here by becoming my wife.

'I am far from desiring to force a hurried decision on your part, and
will wait your good pleasure patiently, should you feel any
uncertainty at the moment as to the step. I am quite disqualified, by
habits and experience, for the delightful procedure of urging my suit
in the ardent terms which would be so appropriate towards such a lady,
and so expressive of my inmost feeling. In truth, a prosy cleric of
five-and-forty wants encouragement to make him eloquent. Of this,
however, I can assure you: that if admiration, esteem, and devotion
can compensate in any way for the lack of those qualities which might
be found to burn with more outward brightness in a younger man, those
it is in my power to bestow for the term of my earthly life. Your
steady adherence to church principles and your interest in
ecclesiastical polity (as was shown by your bright questioning on
those subjects during our morning walk round your grounds) have
indicated strongly to me the grace and appropriateness with which you
would fill the position of a bishop's wife, and how greatly you would
add to his reputation, should you be disposed to honour him with your
hand. Formerly there have been times when I was of opinion--and you
will rightly appreciate my candour in owning it--that a wife was an
impediment to a bishop's due activities; but constant observation has
convinced me that, far