She was already quite accustomed to being the target at which spendthrifts and the needy rich might shoot their arrows: accustomed to being shot at, and tolerably accustomed to protect herself without making scenes in the world, or rejecting the advantageous establishments offered to her with any loud expressions of disdain.

The Honourable George, therefore, had been permitted to say soft things very much as a matter of course.
And very little more outward fracas arose from the correspondence which followed than had arisen from the soft things so said.

George wrote the letter, and had it duly conveyed to Miss Dunstable's bed-chamber.

Miss Dunstable duly received it, and had her answer conveyed back discreetly to George's hands.

The correspondence ran as follows:-- Courcy Castle, Aug.