’My dear John,—­We are all here desirous that bygones should be bygones, and are willing to forgive,—­though we may not perhaps be able to forget.  I am quite of opinion that resentments should not be lasting, let them have been ever so well justified by circumstances at first.

    ’Your uncle bids me say that he hopes you will come over and shoot
    the Puddinghall coverts with Humphry and John.  They propose Thursday
    next but would alter the day if that does not suit.

    ’We have heard of your wife’s condition, of course, and trust that
    everything may go well with her.  I shall hope to make her
    acquaintance some day when she is able to receive visitors.

’I am particularly induced at the present moment to hold out to you once more the right hand of fellowship and family affection by the fact that dear Julia is about to settle herself most advantageously in life.  She is engaged to marry the Rev. Augustus Smirkie, the rector of Plum-cum-Pippins near Woodbridge in this county.  We all like Mr. Smirkie very much indeed, and think that Julia has been most fortunate in her choice.’ (These words were underscored doubly by way of showing how very much superior was Mr. Augustus Smirkie to Mr. John Caldigate.) ’I may perhaps as well mention, to avoid anything disagreeable at present, that Julia is at this time staying with Mr. Smirkie’s mother at Ipswich.—­Your affectionate aunt,

    ‘Maryanne Babington.’

Caldigate was at first inclined to send, in answer to this letter, a reply which would not have been agreeable to his aunt, but was talked into a better state of mind by his wife.  ’Telling me that she will forgive me!  The question is whether I will forgive her!’ ’Let that be the question,’ said his wife, ’and do forgive her.  She wants to come round, and, of course, she has to make the best of it for herself.  Tell her from me that I shall be delighted to see her whenever she chooses to come.’

‘Poor Julia!’ said Caldigate, laughing.

’Of course you think so, John.  That’s natural enough.  Perhaps I think so too.  But what has that to do with it?’

’It’s rather unfortunate that I know so much about Mr. Smirkie.  He is fifty years old, and has five children by his former wife.’

‘I don’t see why he shouldn’t be a good husband for all that.’

‘And Plum-cum-Pippins is less than L300 a-year.  Poor dear Julia!’

‘I believe you are jealous, John.’

’Well; yes.  Look at the way she has underscored it.  Of course I’m jealous.’  Nevertheless he wrote a courteous answer promising to go over and shoot the coverts, and stay for one night.