She ticked off the neighbouring gentlemen, and decided against them one by one.

Old Digger was useless.

Matthew Hale was sound, but stupid.
Everything pointed to her brother Philip.
No sooner had she made up her mind than Barbara turned to her writing-table and penned a laborious letter to the Rev.Jeremy.

Poor Barbara! Spelling was not her strongest point, nor, indeed, did anyone then mind whether spelling was good or bad.

She wrote as follows: DEARE AND REVEREND SIR, "My father has riden to London and I would faine not be without manlie companie in so grate an house (olde Digger being worthie and trustie but a lyttel deaf and stiffe).