ou," said Nelly, handing a letter to L'Estrange.

He reddened as he took it; not that he knew either the writing or the
seal, but that terrible consciousness which besets the poor man in life
leads him always to regard the unknown as pregnant with misfortune: and
so he pocketed his letter, to read it when alone and unobserved.

"Here's Cutbill again. I don't think I care for more Cutbill," said
Bramleigh; "and here's Sedley; Sedley will keep. This is from Marion."

"Oh, let us hear Marion by all means," said Nelly. "May I read
her, Gusty?" He nodded, and she broke the envelope. "Ten lines and a
postscript. She's positively expansive this time:--

"'Victoria, Naples. "'My dear Gusty,--Our discreet and delicate
stepmother has written to ask me to intercede with you to permit M.
Pracontal to pull down part of the house at Castello, to search for some
family papers. I have replied that her demand is both impracticable
and indecent. Be sure that you make a like answer if she addresses you
personally. We mean to leave this soon; but are not yet certain in what
direction. We have been shamefully treated, after having brought this
troublesome and difficult negotiation to a successful end. We shall
withdraw our proxy. "'Yours ever, in much affection, "'Marion Culduff.

"'P. S.--You have heard, I suppose, that Culduff has presented
L'Estrange to a living. It's not in a hunting county, so that he will
not be exposed to temptation; nor are there any idle young men, and
Julia may also enjoy security. Do you know where they are?'"

They laughed long and heartily over this postscript. Indeed, it amused
them to such a degree that they forgot all the preceding part of the
letter. As to the fact of the presentation, none believed it. Read by
the light of Cutbill's former letter, it was plain enough that it was
only one of those pious frauds which diplomacy deals in as largely as
Popery. Marion, they were sure, supposed she was recording a fact; but
her comments on the fact were what amused them most.

"I wonder am I a flirt?" said Julia, gravely.

"I wonder am I a vicar?" said George; and once more the laughter broke
out fresh and hearty.

"Let us have Cutbill now, Nelly. It will be in a different strain. He
's lengthy, too. He not only writes on four, but six sides of note paper
this time."

"'Dear Bramleigh,--You will be astonished to hear that I travelled back
to England with Count Pracontal or Pracontal de Bramleigh, or wha