It was not only her own sense of propriety that made her try to keep up to date with the letters but also the feeling that Mr. Hanbury would be shocked and surprised at any omission that she might commit in social courtesies and behaviour.
The Marquis, of course, had been hopeless where the letters were concerned.
“If anyone thinks I am going to write and thank people for all this rubbish,” he said, looking at the accumulation of presents in the library, “they are very much mistaken.”
“Rubbish!” the Dowager had protested. “How can you be so ungrateful? I have never in my life seen a more delightful collection of gifts.”
“Then you write to thank for them, Grandmama,” the Marquis said. “I never was much of a hand at writing, in fact I was continually flogged at Eton because my essays wer
