"Over what period do the dates of these letters extend?" I asked.
"Over about seven years; from 1769 to 1776."
Four years prior to the marriage with our friend Matthew; three years after the marriage.
"Are they tolerably long letters, or mere scrawls?"
"They were written in a period when nobody wrote short letters," answered Mr. Goodge sententiously,—"the period of Bath post and dear postage. The greater number of the epistles cover three sides of a sheet of letter-paper; and Mrs. Rebecca's caligraphy was small and neat."
"Good!" I exclaimed. "I suppose it is no use my asking you to let me see one of these letters before striking a bargain—eh, Mr. Goodge?" "Well, I think not," answered the oily old hypocrite. "I have taken counsel, and I will abide by the light that has been shown me. 'If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself;' such are the words of inspiration. No, I think not."
"And what do you ask for the forty odd letters?"
"Twenty pounds."
"A stiff sum, Mr. Goodge, for forty sheets of old letter-paper."
"But if they were not likely to be valuable, you would scarcely happen to want them," answered the minister. "I have taken counsel, young man."