The reply was made in a very few words.
"As to myself," he said, after expressing his regret that the Duke should find it necessary to retire from public life--"as to myself, pray understand that whatever I may do I shall never cease to be grateful for your affectionate and high-spirited counsels." Then his mind recurred to a more immediate and, for the moment, a heavier trouble.

He had as yet given no answer to that letter from Mrs.Finn, which the reader will perhaps remember.

It might indeed be passed over without an answer; but to him that was impossible.

She had accused him in the very strongest language of injustice, and had made him understand that if he were unjust to her, then would he be most ungrateful.

He, looking at the matter with his own lights, had thought that he had been right, but had resolved to submit the question to another person.