his
friends can recommend him a new governess and he doesn't like the
notion of sending the girl to school. So matters rest at present, on
the major's own showing; for so the major expressed himself at a morning
call which the father and daughter paid to the ladies at the great
house.

"You have now got my promised news, and you will have little difficulty,
I think, in agreeing with me that the Armadale business must be settled
at once, one way or the other. If, with your hopeless prospects, and
with what I may call your family claim on this young fellow, you decide
on giving him up, I shall have the pleasure of sending you the balance
of your account with me (seven-and-twenty shillings), and shall then
be free to devote myself entirely to my own proper business. If, on the
contrary, you decide to try your luck at Thorpe Ambrose, then (there
being no kind of doubt that the major's minx will set her cap at the
young squire) I should be glad to hear how you mean to meet the double
difficulty of inflaming Mr. Armadale and extinguishing Miss Milroy.

"Affectionately yours,

"MARIA OLDERSHAW.

5. _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs. Oldershaw.

(First Answer.)_

"Richmond, Wednesday Morning.

"MRS. OLDERSHAW--Send me my seven-and-twenty shillings, and devote
yourself to your own proper business. Yours, L. G."

6. _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs. Oldershaw.

(Second Answer.)_

"Richmond, Wednesday Night.

"DEAR OLD LOVE--Keep the seven-and-twenty shillings, and burn my other
letter. I have changed my mind.

"I wrote the first time after a horrible night. I write this time after
a ride on horseback, a tumbler of claret, and the breast of a chicken.
Is that explanation enough? Please say Yes, for I want to go back to my
piano.

"No; I can't go back yet; I must answer your question first. But are you
really so very simple as to suppose that I don't see straight through
you and your letter? You know that the major's difficulty is our
opportunity as well as I do; but you want me to take the responsibility
of making the first proposal, don't you? Suppose I take it in your
own roundabout way? Suppose I say, 'Pray don't ask me how I propose
inflaming Mr. Armadale and extinguishing Miss Milroy; the question is
so shockingly abrupt I really can't answer it. Ask me, instead, if it is
the modest ambition of my life to become Miss Milroy's governess?' Yes,
if you please, Mrs. Oldershaw, and if you will assist me by becoming my
reference.