"I cannot pretend to offer you a heart which has never known either
love or disappointment. I have loved already, and my heart was years
in recovering from the grief I felt at seeing her become another's.
That, however, is over, and having seen yourself I rejoice over a
disappointment which I thought at one time would have been fatal to
me. It has left me a less ardent lover than I should perhaps
otherwise have been, but it has increased tenfold my power of
appreciating your many charms and my desire that you should become my
wife. Please let me have a few lines of answer by the bearer to let
me know whether or not my suit is accepted. If you accept me I will
at once come and talk the matter over with Mr and Mrs Allaby, whom I
shall hope one day to be allowed to call father and mother.
"I ought to warn you that in the event of your consenting to be my
wife it may be years before our union can be consummated, for I cannot
marry till a college living is offered me. If, therefore, you see fit
to reject me, I shall be grieved rather than surprised.--Ever most
devotedly yours,
"THEOBALD PONTIFEX.
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