did for love of
his son. Peter has sat in the garden, too, working hard, and we have not
disturbed each other. The Japanese brought us lunch out of doors in a
summer house built like a temple in a Roman garden. We had hothouse
strawberries and cream of Jersey cows, and when Peter heard me say I
would like to see a Jersey, he ordered a Japanese to have one fetched.
It came--oh, so small a cow, like a great toy, colour of biscuit, and
with a purple tongue which it rolled round a tartine I gave. I have
never been more happy.

I would have asked Peter at _dejeuner_ if there was a son of Marcel
Moncourt, but it seemed not the right time somehow, I can hardly tell
why. When I have helped him with the proofs perhaps. (I am to copy his
marks on a second set, and I shall try so hard not to have mistakes!) Or
to-night, at the Piping Rock Club, where we shall dance together, I
hope. Anyway soon. And I will write to you all he says.

Your fairy-tale goose girl--or princess--I know not which!

PATRICE.

IX

ANGELE DUBOIS, PATRICIA MOORE'S MAID, TO THE MARQUISE DE MONCOURT

(_A translation of her letter into English._)

Madame la Marquise has done me the honour of commanding me to write when
there was news, good or bad, of the distinguished Monsieur Laurence
Moore.

The first time I took pen in hand I had the pain of telling Madame of
his failure in finance, which greeted Mademoiselle his daughter and me
on our arrival in this country. Had it not been for my promise to
Madame, I do not know if my courage would have supported the
humiliations I was obliged to suffer at that time, but I reminded myself
of her confidence in me, and praise be to the saints was able to
accomplish my duties until better days dawned. In this I was aided by
the kindness of Monsieur, who has much sympathy and condescension for
all near him. It is unfortunate that he should be forced to put his
beautiful house to the uses of a hotel, as I took the liberty of
complaining before to Madame. But such is the unique charm of Monsieur,
he carries off this apparent ignominy without losing caste, and is most
popular with all his guests and domestics--even too popular with some of
the former who are females. And this brings me to my excuse for
troubling Madame.

Poor Monsieur is as gay and good-natured as a boy. He can bear to hurt
the feelings of no one, not even a cat, human or o