lieve to be foolish misconception on their part.
But they have a right to their own opinions, and I will not mulct them
because of their conscientious convictions.--Yours faithfully,

"JEFFREY WORTLE."

"If you come across any friend who has a boy here, you are perfectly at
liberty to show him or her this letter."

The defection of the Momsons wounded the Doctor, no doubt. He was aware
that Mrs. Stantiloup had been at Buttercup, and that the Bishop also had
been there--and he could put two and two together; but it hurt him to
think that one so "staunch" though so "stupid" as Mrs. Momson, should be
turned from her purpose by such a woman as Mrs. Stantiloup. And he got
other letters on the subject. Here is one from Lady Anne Clifford.

"DEAR DOCTOR,--You know how safe I think my dear boys are with you, and
how much obliged I am both to you and your wife for all your kindness.
But people are saying things to me about one of the masters at your school
and his wife. Is there any reason why I should be afraid? You will see
how thoroughly I trust you when I ask you the question.--Yours very
sincerely,

"ANNE CLIFFORD."

Now Lady Anne Clifford was a sweet, confiding, affectionate, but not very
wise woman. In a letter, written not many days before to Mary Wortle, who
had on one occasion been staying with her, she said that she was at that
time in the same house with the Bishop and Mrs. Rolland. Of course the
Doctor knew again how to put two and two together.

Then there came a letter from Mr. Talbot--

"DEAR WORTLE,--So you are boiling for yourself another pot of hot water.
I never saw such a fellow as you are for troubles! Old Mother Shipton has
been writing such a letter to our old woman, and explaining that no boy's
soul would any longer be worth looking after if he be left in your hands.
Don't you go and get me into a scrape more than you can help; but you may
be quite sure of this that if I had as many sons as Priam I should send
them all to you;--only I think that the cheques would be very long in
coming.--Yours always,

"JOHN TALBOT."

The Doctor answered this at greater length than he had done in writing to
Mr. Momson, who was not specially his friend.

"MY DEAR TALBOT,--You may be quite sure that I shall not repeat to any one
what you have told me of Mother Shipton. I knew, however, pretty well
what she was doing and what I had to expect from her. It is astonishing
to me that such a wo