"Yes, very well," I replied, hesitatingly.
"You must tell her," she continued, "that I would answer her letter, but I have no materials for writing: not even a book from which I might tear a leaf."
"No books!" I exclaimed. "How do you contrive to live here without them? if I may take the liberty to inquire. Though provided with a large library, I'm frequently very dull at the Grange; take my books away, and I should be desperate!"

'Yes, very well,' I replied.
'You must tell her that I would answer her letter, but I have nothing to write on: not even a book from which I might tear a leaf.'
'No books!' I exclaimed. 'How do you contrive to live here without them? Without my books, I should be desperate!'
