Whether or no Mrs. Tickler had been the letter-writing wellwisher
from Littlebath, or had induced her friend to be so, it did seem
manifest to him, Dr. Grantly, that Mrs. Proudie absolutely believed
the report which she promulgated so diligently. The wish might be
father to the thought, no doubt; but that the thought was truly
there, Dr. Grantly could not induce himself to disbelieve. His wife
was less credulous, and to a certain degree comforted him; but that
evening he received a letter which greatly confirmed the suspicions
set on foot by Mrs. Proudie, and even shook his wife's faith in Lord
Dumbello. It was from a mere acquaintance, who in the ordinary course
of things would not have written to him. And the bulk of the letter
referred to ordinary things, as to which the gentleman in question
would hardly have thought of giving himself the trouble to write a
letter. But at the end of the note he said,--"of course you are aware
that Dumbello is off to Paris; I have not heard whether the exact day
of his return is fixed."
"It is true, then," said the archdeacon, striking the library table
with his hand, and becoming absolutely white about the mouth and
jaws.
"It cannot be," said Mrs. Grantly; but even she was now trembling.
"If it be so I'll drag him back to England by the collar of his coat,
and disgrace him before the steps of his father's hall.
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