It was difficult, though she found that it hardly took so long as she expected.

It was difficult, for she felt bound to tell him the truth; and yet she was anxious not to spoil all his pleasure among his friends.

She told him, however, that Lady Lufton was very angry, "unreasonably angry, I must say," she put in, in order to show that she had not sided against him.

"And, indeed, we have quite quarrelled, and this has made me unhappy, as it will you, dearest; I know that.

But we both know how good she is at heart, and Justinia thinks that she had other things to trouble her; and I hope it will all be made up before you come home; only, dearest Mark, pray do not be longer than you said in your last letter." And then there were three or four paragraphs about the babies, and two about the schools, which I may as well omit.