On hearing
this, she did not trouble to clean her hands any more, but opened the
letter at once, making floury finger-prints upon it.
"DEAR MISS POLKINGTON, (it ran),
"There is one subject I did not mention to you yesterday;
you might perhaps have thought it too serious for holiday
consideration; nevertheless, it is a question that I feel I
must ask before I leave Holland. Will you do me the honour
of becoming my wife? I know there is rather a difference in
years between us, but if you can overlook the discrepancy,
and consent, you will give me the utmost satisfaction. I
honestly believe it will make for the happiness of us both;
I have a feeling that we were meant to continue our
'excursion' together.
"Very sincerely yours,
"H. F. RAWSON-CLEW."
So Julia read, and sat down suddenly on the flour barrel. She turned
to the beginning of the letter and read it through again, and when she
looked up her eyes were shining with admiration. "I am glad!" she said
aloud, but in English, "I am glad he has done it! It's splendid,
splendid! I never thought of it--but then I don't believe I knew what
a real gentleman was before!"
The maidservant started at her curiously; she could not understand a
word, but she saw that the letter gave pleasure, for which she was
glad; she liked Julia, and was very sorry she was going in disgrace;
she herself had occasional lapses from rectitude and so consequently
had a fellow feeling.
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