'Yes, he wrote yesterday, but he did not speak of coming home.'
'What did he say?'
'He said he was meditating a book on the works of bishops and monks who wrote Latin in the early centuries. He has put up a thirteenth century window in the chapel, and he wants me to go up to London to make inquiries about organs. He is prepared to go as far as a thousand pounds. Did you ever hear of such a thing? Those Jesuits are encouraging him. Of course it would just suit them if he became a priest—nothing would suit them better; the whole property would fall into their hands. Now, what I want you to do, my dear friend, is to go to Stanton College to-morrow, or next day, as soon as you possibly can, and to talk to John. You must tell him how unwise it is to spend fifteen hundred pounds in one year building organs and putting up windows. His intentions are excellent, but his estate won't bear such extravagances; and everybody here thinks he is such a miser. I want you to tell him that he should marry. Just fancy what a terrible thing it would be if the estate passed away to distant relatives—to those terrible cousins of ours.'
'This is very serious.'
'Yes, it is very serious. If it weren't very serious I should not have put you to the trouble of coming over here to-day.'
'There was no trouble; I was glad of the walk. But I don't see how I am to advise you in this matter.'
'I don't want advice. It is John who wants advice. Will you go to
Stanton College and talk to him?'
'What am I to say?'
'Tell him it is his duty to return home, to settle down and marry.'
'I don't think John would listen to me—it would not be prudent to speak to him in that way. He is not the sort of man who allows himself to be driven. But I might suggest that he should come home.'