“You will let me hear from you when that business is over?” he said.
“I will. Remember it is not my function to send invitations for the wedding.”
“I suppose not.”
Somebody else drew near.
As they passed from the dining-room after breakfast next morning, Isabel said to Mrs. Stratton:
“Come to the boudoir; I have a letter I want to show you.”
The letter was this:
“Dear Mrs. Clarendon,
“I want to tell you in as few words as possible that my marriage is indefinitely postponed. It will not, in any event, take place before I complete my twenty-first year. My second purpose in writing to you is to ask your permission to go at once to London and live in Mr. Meres’ house. This is for purposes of study. I am unable to procure at Knightswell the materials I need. Will you oblige me with a reply as soon as you can?
“Faithfully yours,