ave written; but I have
been urged to do it by some things that have happened lately.

"Some time ago Maurice, speaking to me of Mr. Beresford's will, told me
that there had been a little difficulty in tracing one of the persons
named as legatees. This was a cousin of Mr. Beresford's, with whom he
seems to have had very little acquaintance, and no recent intercourse
whatever; although, except Lady Dighton, she was the nearest relative he
had. The lawyers discovered, while Maurice was in Canada, that this lady
herself was dead. Her marriage had been unfortunate, and she had a
spendthrift son, to whom, as his mother's heir, the money left by Mr.
Beresford passed; but it appeared that she had also a daughter, who was
in unhappy circumstances, being dependent on some relation of her
father. Maurice, very naturally and properly, thought that, as head of
the family, it was his duty to arrange something for this lady's
comfort; and accordingly, being in London, where she lives, he called on
her. She has since then been in this neighbourhood, and I have seen her
several times. She is a young lady of agreeable appearance and manners,
and seems qualified to become popular, if she were in a position to do
so. I should not have thought of this, however, if it had not been for a
few words Maurice said to me one day. I asked him some question about
marrying, hoping to hear some allusion to Lucia, but he said very
gravely that he should certainly marry some time; he had promised his
grandfather to do so. Then he said suddenly, 'What would you think of
Emma Landor for a daughter-in-law?' 'Emma Landor?' I answered; 'what has
put her into your head?' 'Just this, sir,' he said; 'if I am to marry as
a duty, I had better find somebody to whom I shall do some good, and not
all evil, by marrying them. Emma would enjoy being mistress here; she
would do it well, too; and having Hunsdon, she would not miss anything
else that might be wanting.' With that he went out of the room; and
after awhile I persuaded myself that he meant nothing serious by what he
had said. However, Lady Dighton has spoken to me of the same thing
since. Both she and I are convinced now that Maurice thinks--you may be,
better then we are, able to understand why--that he has lost Lucia, and
that, therefore, a marriage of convenience is all that he can hope for.
Perhaps I am mistaken, or, at all events, too soon alarmed; but the
mere idea of his proposing to this young lady th