‘I never meant it. I tried to act for the best. She was spoken to, by myself and others, but nobody could make any impression, and we could only give her notice to go at the harvest holidays. She took it with her usual grand air—’
‘Which is really misery and despair. Oh, why did I go? Go on!’
‘I wrote to the mother, advising her, if possible, to come and be with the girl till the holidays. That was on Thursday week, and the old woman promised to come on the Monday—wrote a very proper letter, allowing for the Methodistical phrases—but on the Saturday it was observed that the house was not opened, and on Sunday morning I got a note—if you’ll come in I’ll show it to you.’
He presently discovered it among multitudinous other papers on his chimney-piece. Within a lady-like envelope was a thick satin-paper, queen’s-sized note, containing these words:
‘Reverend Sir,—It is with the deepest feelings of regret for the unsatisfactory appearance of my late conduct that I venture to address you, but time will enable me to account for all, and I can at the present moment only entreat you to pardon any inconvenience I may have occasioned by the precipitancy of my departure. Credit me, reverend and dear sir, it was only the law of necessity that could have compelled me to act in a manner that may appear questionable. Your feeling heart will excuse my reserve when you are informed of the whole. In the meantime, I am only permitted to mention that this morning I became a happy wife. With heartfelt thanks for all the kindness I have received, I remain,
‘Reverend sir,
‘Your obedient servant,
‘Edna.’
‘Not one message to me?’ exclaimed Lucilla.
‘Her not having had the impudence is the only redeeming thing!’
‘I did not think she would have left no word for me,’ said Lucy, who knew she had been kinder than her wont, and was really wounded. ‘Happy wife! Who can it be?’
‘Happy wife?’ repeated the curate. ‘It is miserable fool, most likely, by this time.’
‘No surname signed! What’s the post-mark? Only Charing-cross. Could you find out nothing, or did you not think it worth while to look?’