"I suppose you have other engagements," said she.
"Oh yes; and I believe I shall go to Lady Clantelbrocks." And then he took his departure. No other word was spoken that evening between him and Miss Grantly beyond those given in this chronicle, and yet the world declared that he and that young lady had passed the evening in so close a flirtation as to make the matter more than ordinarily particular; and Mrs. Grantly, as she was driven home to her lodgings, began to have doubts in her mind whether it would be wise to discountenance so great an alliance as that which the head of the great Hartletop family now seemed so desirous to establish. The prudent mother had not yet spoken a word to her daughter on these subjects, but it might soon become necessary to do so. It was all very well for Lady Lufton to hurry up to town, but of what service would that be if Lord Lufton were not to be found in Bruton Street?
At that time, just as Lady Lufton was about to leave Framley for London, Mark Robarts received a pressing letter, inviting him also to go up to the metropolis for a day or two—not for pleasure, but on business. The letter was from his indefatigable friend Sowerby.
"My dear Robarts," the letter ran:
"I have just heard that poor little Burslem, the Barsetshire prebendary, is dead. We must all die some day, you know—as you have told your parishioners from the Framley pulpit more than once, no doubt. The stall must be filled up, and why should not you have it as well as another? It is six hundred a year and a house. Little Burslem had nine, but the good old times are gone. Whether the house is letable or not under the present ecclesiastical régime, I do not know. It used to be so, for I remember Mrs. Wiggins, the tallow-chandler's widow, living in old Stanhope's house.
"Harold Smith has just joined the government as Lord Petty Bag, and could, I think, at the present moment, get this for asking. He can not well refuse me, and, if you will say the word, I will speak to him. You had better come up yourself; but say the word 'Yes' or 'No' by the wires.
"If you say 'Yes,' as of course you will, do not fail to come up. You will find me at the 'Travelers,' or at the House. The stall will just suit you—will give you no trouble, improve your position, and give some little assistance toward bed and board, and rack and manger.
"Yours ever faithfully,N. Sowerby.
