Dorothy was greatly gratified by the excitement of the proposed change in her life, and the following letter, the product of the wisdom of the family, was written by Mrs.Stanbury:-- Nuncombe Putney, 1st May, 186--.
MY DEAR SISTER STANBURY, We are all very thankful for the kindness of your offer, which my daughter Dorothy will accept with feelings of affectionate gratitude.

I think you will find her docile, good-tempered, and amiable; but a mother, of course, speaks well of her own child.

She will endeavour to comply with your wishes in all things reasonable.

She, of course, understands that should the arrangement not suit, she will come back home on the expression of your wish that it should be so.

And she will, of course, do the same, if she should find that living in Exeter does not suit herself.
[This sentence was inserted at the instance of Priscilla, after much urgent expostulation.] Dorothy will be ready to go to you on any day you may fix after the 7th of this month.
Believe me to remain, Your affectionate sister-in-law, P.STANBURY.
"She's going to come," said Miss Stanbury to Martha, holding the letter in her hand.
"I never doubted her coming, ma'am," said Martha.
"And I mean her to stay, unless it's her own fault.