to go home? I can fancy you won't like Tunbridge. It will be
very hot for you if those letters are found."

"There was not a word against you in them, madam: about that I can make
your mind easy."

"So Harry said, and did your ladyship justice. Well, my dear, we are
tired of one another, and shall be better apart for a while."

"That is precisely my own opinion," said Lady Maria, dropping a curtsey.

"Mr. Sampson can escort you to Castlewood. You and your maid can take a
postchaise."

"We can take a postchaise, and Mr. Sampson can escort me," echoed the
younger lady. "You see, madam, I act like a dutiful niece."

"Do you know, my dear, I have a notion that Sampson has got the
letters?" said the Baroness, frankly.

"I confess that such a notion has passed through my own mind."

"And you want to go home in the chaise, and coax the letters from him!
Delilah! Well, they can be no good to me, and I trust you may get them.
When will you go? The sooner the better, you say? We are women of the
world, Maria. We only call names when we are in a passion. We don't want
each other's company; and we part on good terms. Shall we go to my Lady
Yarmouth's? 'Tis her night. There is nothing like a change of scene
after one of those little nervous attacks you have had, and cards drive
away unpleasant thoughts better than any doctor."

Lady Maria agreed to go to Lady Yarmouth's cards, and was dressed and
ready first, awaiting her aunt in the drawing-room. Madame Bernstein, as
she came down, remarked Maria's door was left open. "She has the
letters upon her," thought the old lady. And the pair went off to their
entertainment in their respective chairs, and exhibited towards each
other that charming cordiality and respect which women can show after,
and even during, the bitterest quarrels.

That night, on their return from the Countess's drum, Mrs. Brett, Madame
Bernstein's maid, presented herself to my Lady Maria's call, when that
lady rang her hand-bell upon retiring to her room. Betty, Mrs. Brett was
ashamed to say, was not in a fit state to come before my lady. Betty had
been a-junketing and merry-making with Mr. Warrington's black gentleman,
with my Lord Bamborough's valet, and several more ladies and gentlemen
of that station, and the liquor--Mrs. Brett was shocked to own it--had
proved too much for Mrs. Betty. Should Mrs. Brett undress my lady? My
lady said she would undress without a maid, and gave Mrs. Brett leave to
with