I am sure you need no advice from me, nor from anyone else, now that you have the advantage of Miss Bride's counsels.

I regret very much that I have so slight an acquaintance with that lady, but Mrs.Toplady tells me that she is admirably suited to be your companion, and to encourage and help you in your career.

I shall have the pleasure of watching you from a distance, and of sincerely wishing you happiness as well as success." The formal style of this letter, so different from Iris's ordinary effusions, made sufficient proof of the mood in which it was written.
Dyce bit his lips over it.

He had foreseen that Mrs.Woolstan would hear of his engagement, but had hoped it would not be just yet.

There was for the present no help; in her eyes he stood condemned of some thing more than indelicacy.