I will give her letter at length, as I shall then be best able to proceed with my story quickly.
Queen Anne Street, -- August, 186--.
DEAREST JOHN,-- We reached home yesterday tired enough, as we came through from Paris without stopping.

I may indeed say that we came through from Strasbourg, as we only slept in Paris.
I don't like Strasbourg.

A steeple, after all, is not everything, and putting the steeple aside, I don't think the style is good.

But the hotel was uncomfortable, which goes for so much;--and then we were saturated with beauty of a better kind.
I got your letter directly I came in last night, and I suppose I had better dash at it at once.

I would so willingly delay doing so, saying nice little things the while, did I not know that this would be mere cowardice.
Whatever happens I won't be a coward, and therefore I will tell you at once that I cannot let you hope that we should be married this year.