eccentric as to repel me; he on his side was so bigoted that he could not tolerate my tacit disapproval.  Not being a Ritualist but an Evangelical, I can perhaps bring myself more easily to forgive my brother’s faults and at the same time indulge my theories of duty, as opposed to forms and ceremonies, theories that if carried out by everybody would soon transform our modern Christianity.  You are no doubt a Ritualist, and your son has no doubt been educated in the same school.  Let me hasten to give you my word that I shall not make the least attempt to interfere either with your religious practices or with his.  The quarrel between myself and James was due almost entirely to James’ inability to let me and my opinions alone.

I am far from being a rich man, in fact I may say at once that I am scarcely even “comfortably off” as the phrase goes.  It would therefore be outside my capacity to undertake the expense of any elaborate education for your son; but my own school, which while it does not pretend to compete with some of the fashionable establishments of the time is I venture to assert a first class school and well able to send your son into the world at the age of sixteen as well equipped, and better equipped than he would be if he went to one of the famous public schools.  I possess some influence with a firm of solicitors, and I have no doubt that when my nephew, who is I believe now twelve years old, has had the necessary schooling I shall be able to secure him a position as an articled clerk, from which if he is honest and industrious he may be able to rise to the position of a junior partner.  If you have saved anything from the sale of your father’s effects I should advise you to invest the sum.  However small it is, you will find the extra money useful, for as I remarked before I shall not be able to afford to do more than lodge and feed you both, educate your son, find him in clothes, and start him in a career on the lines I have already indicated.  My local informant tells me that you have kept back a certain amount of your father’s furniture in order to take lodgings elsewhere.  As this will now be unnecessary I hope that you will sell the rest.  Haverton House is sufficiently furnished, and we should not be able to find room for any more furniture.  I suggest your coming to us next Friday.  It will be easiest for you to take the fast train up to Paddington when you will be able to catch the 6.45 to Slowbridge arriving at 7.15.  We usually dine at 7.30, but on Friday dinner will be at 8 p.m. in order to give you plenty of time.  Helen sends her love.  She would have written also, but I assured her that one letter was enough, and that a very long one.

     Your affectionate brother-in-law,

     Henry Lidderdale.

Mrs. Lidderdale would no doubt have criticized this letter more sharply if she had not regarded it as inspired, almost actually written by the hand of God.  Whatever in it was displeasing to her she accepted as the Divine decree, and if anybody had pointed out the inconsistency of some of the opinions therein expressed with its Divine authorship, she would have dismissed the objection as made by somebody who was incapable of comprehending the mysterious action of God.