pendispaidbytheEcclesiasticalCommissioners,which,ofcourse,ismuchsaferthanglebe.Sheisnolongerayounggirl,andIthinkitwasherlastchance.Althoughsheismyowndaughter,Icannothelpconfessingthatsheisnotthesortofgirlthatwearswellshehasalwaysbeenplain—(noonewouldthinkshewasmydaughter)—andastimegoeson,shewillgrowplainer.WhenIwaseighteenmymother'smaidusedtosay:'Why,miss,there'smanyamarriedwomanofthirtywhowouldbeproudtohaveyourbust.'Butourpoor,dearMaryhasnofigure.Shewilldoexcellentlyforthewifeofacountryvicar.She'ssofondofgivingpeopleadvice,andoflookingafterthepoor,anditwon'tmatterthatshe'sdowdy.Shehasnoideaofdressingherself,althoughI'vealwaysdonemybestforher.
"Mr.Drylandis,ofcourse,intheseventhheavenofdelight.HehasgoneintoTunbridgeWellstogetaring,andasanengagementpresenthasjustsentroundacompleteeditionoftheworksofMr.HallCaine.Heisevidentlygenerous.Ithinktheywillsuitoneanotherverywell,andIamgladtogetmyonlydaughtermarried.ShewasalwaysratheratieonReginaldandme.Wearesodevotedtooneanotherthatathirdpersonhasoftenseemedalittleintheway.Althoughyouwouldnotbelieveit,andwehavebeenmarriedfornearlythirtyyears,nothinggivesusmorehappinessthantositholdingoneanother'shands.Ihavealwaysbeensentimental,andIamnotashamedtoownit.ReggieissometimesafraidthatIshallgetanattackofmyrheumatismwhenwesitouttogetheratnightbutIalwaystakecaretowrapmyselfupwell,andIinvariablymakehimputamuffleron.
"Givemykindestregardstoyourwife,andtellherIhopetoseehersoon.—Yoursverysincerely,
"ClaradeTullevilleClibborn."
THEEND