Poor Augusta prayed very hard for her husband; but she prayed to a bosom that on this subject was as hard as a flint, and she prayed in vain.  Augusta Gresham was twenty-two, Lady Amelia was thirty-four; was it likely that Lady Amelia would permit Augusta to marry, the issue having thus been left in her hands?  Why should Augusta derogate from her position by marrying beneath herself, seeing that Lady Amelia had spent so many more years in the world without having found it necessary to do so?  Augusta’s letter was written on two sheets of note-paper, crossed all over; and Lady Amelia’s answer was almost equally formidable.

’Lady Amelia de Courcy to Miss Augusta Gresham

’Courcy Castle, June, 185-

’My dear Augusta,

’I received your letter yesterday morning, but I have put off answering it till this evening, as I have wished to give it very mature consideration.  The question is one which concerns, not only your own character, but happiness for life, and nothing less than very mature consideration would justify me in giving a decided opinion on the subject.

’In the first place, I may tell you, that I have not a word to say against Mr Mortimer Gazebee.’ (When Augusta had read as far as this, her heart sank within her; the rest was all leather and prunella; she saw at once that the fiat had gone against her, and that her wish to become Mrs Mortimer Gazebee was not to be indulged.) ’I have known him for a long time, and I believe him to be a very respectable person, and I have no doubt a good man of business.  The firm of Messrs Gumption and Gazebee stands probably quite among the first attorneys in London, and I know that papa has a very high opinion of them.

’All of these would be excellent arguments to use in favour of Mr Gazebee as a suitor, had his proposals been made to any one in his own rank in life.  But you, in considering the matter, should, I think, look on it in a very different light.  The very fact that you pronounce him to be so much superior to other attorneys, shows in how very low esteem you hold the profession in general.  It shows also, dear Augusta, how well aware you are that they are a class of people among whom you should not seek a partner for life.

’My opinion is, that you should make Mr Gazebee understand—­very courteously, of course—­that you cannot accept his hand.  You observe that he himself confesses that in marrying you he would seek a wife in a rank above his own.  Is it not, therefore, clear, that in marrying him, you would descend to a rank below your own?

’I shall be very sorry if it grieves you; but still it will be better that you should bear the grief of overcoming a temporary fancy, than take a step which may so probably make you unhappy; and which some of your friends would certainly regard as disgraceful.