e her? Such a capital idea. And do be nice about poor Dick
Prescott. Stella is so young and impulsive. I wish she could
understand how _much much_ happier she would be married to a nice
man, even though he may be a little older than herself. This
tearing all over Europe cannot be good for her. And now she talks
of going to Vienna and studying under somebody with a perfectly
impossible name beginning with L. Not only that, but she also talks
of unlearning all she has learned and beginning all over again.
This is most absurd, and I've tried to explain to her. She should
have thought of this man beginning with L before. At her age to
start scales and exercises again does seem ridiculous. I really
dread Stella's coming of age. Who knows what she may not take it
into her head to do? I can't think where she gets this curious vein
of eccentricity. I'll write to Mrs. Ross if you like. Stella, of
course, says she can go to Oxford by herself, but that I will not
hear of, and I beg you not to encourage the idea, if she suggests
it to you.

Your loving

Mother.

Michael thought Mrs. Ross would solve the difficulty, and he was glad
rather to relieve himself of the responsibility of his mother at Oxford.
He would have had to be so steadily informative, and she would never
have listened to a word. Stella's view of the visit came soon after her
mother's.

173 CHEYNE WALK,

S.W.

May 8.

Dear M.,

What's all this about Mrs. Ross chaperoning me at Oxford? Is it
necessary? At a shot I said to mother, "No, quite unnecessary." But
of course, if I should disgrace you by coming alone, I won't. Isn't
Mrs. Ross a little on the heavy side? I mean, wouldn't she rather
object to me smoking cigars?

"Great scott!" interjaculated Michael.

I'm going to Vienna soon to begin music all over again, so be very
charming to your only sister,

Stella.

P.S.--Do crush mother over Prescott.

Michael agreed with his mother in thinking a chaperone was absolutely
necessary for Stella's visit to Oxford, and since the threat of cigars
he cordially approved of the suggestion that Mrs. Ross should come.
Moreover, he felt his former governess would approve of his own attitude
toward Oxford, and he rather looked forward to demonstrating it to her.
In the full-blooded asceticism of Oxford Michael c