Monday, Midnight
`` Do , my dear friend , '' the grief-stricken lady went on , `` come to me instantly on the receipt of this ; and , as Arthur 's guardian , entreat , command , the wretched child to give up this most deplorable resolution . '' And , after more entreaties to the above effect , the writer concluded by signing herself the major 's `` unhappy affectionate sister , Helen Pendennis . '' `` Fairoaks , Tuesday '' -- the major concluded , reading the last words of the letter -- `` A d -- d pretty business at Fairoaks , Tuesday ; now let us see what the boy has to say ; '' and he took the other letter , which was written in a great floundering boy 's hand , and sealed with the large signet of the Pendennises , even larger than the major 's own , and with supplementary wax sputtered all round the seal , in token of the writer 's tremulousness and agitation . The epistle ran thus -- `` Fairoaks , '' _ Monday , Midnight _ . `` My dear Uncle , `` In informing you of my engagement with Miss Costigan , daughter of J. Chesterfield Costigan Esq. , of Costiganstown , but , perhaps , better known to you under her professional name of Miss Fotheringay , of the Theaters Royal Drury Lane and Crow-street , and of the Norwich and Welsh Circuit , I am aware that I make an announcement which can not , according to the present prejudices of society , at least , be welcome to my family . My dearest mother , on whom , God knows I would wish to inflict no needless pain , is deeply moved and grieved , I am sorry to say , by the intelligence which I have this night conveyed to her . I beseech you , my dear sir , to come down and reason with her , and console her .