And your father has simply put his foot down on the idea.

As you know he hasn't been very well of late--the doctor says he is threatened with diabetes--so my one thought is to spare him every useless anxiety.

He sleeps very badly and doesn't seem able, even at night, to detach his mind from his business worries.

If he hadn't had such a bad summer, he might have been able to help you start housekeeping, but there have been a great many failures in the last few months, and he says he is obliged to cut down all his expenses in order to tide over the depression in the market.

We are trying to retrench in every possible way, and, for this reason, I fear we shall hardly be able to go down to your wedding.