Bess of the Woods by Warwick Deeping

That same evening while Bess sat bound in Dan's cottage in the deeps of Pevensel, there was much weighing of words in the dining-room at Hardacre.

Dr. Jessel, rector and chaplain, sat at the polished table, with paper, ink, and pouncet-box before him, and a much-nibbled quill in his fist. For years he had acted as the confidential scribe and scholarly supervisor of letters to the household of Hardacre, and he had been called in that morning to prepare a certain epistle, guided by the baronet's personal discretion. Sir Peter faced the parson across the table, and advised him magisterially as to the contents of the letter.