But now that we have actually answered Major Milroy's
advertisement, I am in earnest at last. I mean to be Mrs.
Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose; and woe to the man or woman who tries
to stop me! Yours,
"LYDIA GWILT.
"P.S.--I open my letter again to say that you need have no fear
of your messenger being followed on his return to Pimlico. He
will drive to a public-house where he is known, will dismiss the
cab at the door, and will go out again by a back way which is
only used by the landlord and his friends.--L. G."
3. _From Mrs. Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt_.
"Diana Street, 10 o'clock.
"MY DEAR LYDIA--You have written me a heartless letter. If you
had been in my trying position, harassed as I was when I wrote
to you, I should have made allowances for my friend when I found
my friend not so sharp as usual. But the vice of the present age
is a want of consideration for persons in the decline of life.
Morally speaking, you are in a sad state, my dear; and you stand
much in need of a good example. You shall have a good example--I
forgive you.
"Having now relieved my mind by the performance of a good action,
suppose I show you next (though I protest against the vulgarity
of the expression) that I _can_ see a little further than my poor
old nose?
"I will answer your question about the house-maid first.
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