_I have weighed your very considerate proposal most anxiously and have given full weight to what you urge. I fully appreciate the kind motive which offered me the opportunity of removing to a position both of leisure and of dignity. I am sure you will not think that I have lightly set aside the offer made me; but I am doubtful whether my health would stand the asperities of a Welsh climate. And I have to consider that a very great assistance to me in the performance of my present duties is derived from the complete knowledge of my work in London._ _I fear that I might find the distant and untried labours of St. Olphert’s less congenial. And I feel that without some very strong counter-balancing reason, it is not desirable that I should leave plans which I have begun, but scarcely matured, in the Metropolis._ _Believe me to be, with very grateful thanks, dear Lord Stonehenge,_ _Your faithful and obedient servant, THEODORE SPRATTE_ Lady Sophia smiled when she read that last sentence in which he wisely left himself an escape, whereby he might with dignity abandon London, if a bishopric in the future were offered to him. Obviously the comfortable hope had returned that in the end his merits would receive their just reward. She gave back the letter. “I think it will do capitally,” she said. “Now, if I were you, I’d go out for a stroll.” “So I will, Sophia,” he replied. “I shall never forget your encouragement. I confess I was very much cast down.” Much to her surprise he kissed her affectionately, and then said: “As I have nowhere particular to go, I shall just walk along to Savile Row, and order two pairs of trousers.” XV Mrs. Fitzherbert had fixed half-past eight for the hour of dinner, but Canon Spratte, anxious for a few words before any one arrived, came early. He found her ready to receive him. When he entered the drawing-room she was at the window, looking at the dusk which clothed the London street in a certain atmosphere of charming mystery. “Well?” he said, looking at her and taking both her hands. “I’m glad you came before the others, I wanted to have a chat with you.” “It was cruel of you to leave London so suddenly. You can’t imagine how eagerly I’ve wished to see you.” “I’m afraid it was inevitable,” she answered. “My friend is still very ill, and I only came up this evening because I didn’t want to put my party off.” “I was hoping you’d come up to see me,” he smiled. “In point of fact it was only to see you,” she laughed. “I would have postponed the rest of them gaily, but I think we have a good deal to say to one another.” “I feel immensely flattered,” he replied.