"
"I don't agree with you at all. What would be said if the curate at
Long Royston were to propose to one of the FitzHoward girls?"
"The Duchess would probably ask the Duke to make the young man a
bishop out of hand, and the Duke would have to spend a morning in
explaining to her the changes which have come over the making of
bishops since she was young. There is no other rule that you can lay
down, and I think that girls should understand that they have to
fight their battles subject to that law. It's very easy to say,
'No.'"
"But a man won't take 'No.'"
"And it's lucky for us sometimes that they don't," said Lady
Chiltern, remembering certain passages in her early life.
The answer was written that night by Lord Chiltern after much
consultation. As to the nature of the answer,--that it should be a
positive refusal,--of course there could be no doubt; but then arose
a question whether a reason should be given, or whether the refusal
should be simply a refusal. At last it was decided that a reason
should be given, and the letter ran as follows:--
MY DEAR MR.
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