"The all is but one, Helen; but the doing so I now feel to be very important. Farewell! Take care of yourselves; for I will not vex you, Helen, by turning back again. Farewell!"
The letter which interrupted the tête-à-tête between Mrs. Mowbray and the vicar was an immediate consequence of this conversation, and was as follows:—
"Madam,
"Upon a maturer consideration of the possible effects to the family of my late friend which my refusal to act as his executor may produce, I am willing, notwithstanding my repugnance to the office, to perform the duties of it, and hereby desire to revoke my late refusal to do so.
(Signed) "Gilbert Harrington.
"Oakley, July 12th, 1833."
"Thank Heaven," exclaimed Mrs. Mowbray as soon as she had read the note,—"Thank Heaven that I have no longer any occasion to submit myself to the caprices of any man!—And yet," she added, putting the paper into Mr. Cartwright's hands, "I suppose it will be best for me to accept his reluctant and ungracious offer?"
Mr. Cartwright took the paper, and perused it with great attention, and more than once. At length he said,
"I trust I did not understand you. What was it you said, dearest Mrs. Mowbray, respecting this most insulting communication?"
"I hardly know, Mr. Cartwright, what I said," replied Mrs. Mowbray, colouring. "How can I know what to say to a person who can treat a woman in my painful situation with such cruel caprice, such unfeeling inconsistency?"
"Were I you, my valued friend, I should make the matter very easy, for I should say nothing to him."
"Nothing?—Do you mean that you would not answer the letter?"
"Certainly: that is what I should recommend as the only mode of noticing it, consistently with the respect you owe yourself."