"How very grateful I should be if you would have the great kindness to write it for me!"
"But the handwriting, my dear lady, must be yours."
"Oh yes! I know. But it would be so much more satisfactory if you would sketch the form!"
"Then I am sure I will do it most readily." He drew the paper to him and wrote,
"Mrs. Mowbray presents her compliments to Sir Gilbert Harrington, and requests to know on what day it will suit him to meet her and her lawyer in London, for the purpose of proving her late husband's will at Doctors' Commons. The amount of the real property may be ascertained by the rent-roll; that of the personal, by means of papers left by the deceased, and a valuation of the effects made by competent persons. Mrs. Mowbray begs leave to intimate that she wishes as little delay as possible to intervene before the completion of this transaction."
Mr. Cartwright turned what he had written towards her, saying, "This is the sort of letter which I should think it advisable to send."
Mrs. Mowbray drew forth another sheet, and transcribed it so rapidly that it might be doubted whether she allowed herself time to read it as she did so.
"And this should be despatched instantly, should it not?" she said, folding and directing it.
"Indeed, I think so."
"Then will you have the kindness to ring the bell, Mr. Cartwright?"