ect in wishing to see
you as soon as possible. May I follow my letter to Mablethorpe House?
And may I present a lady to you--a perfect stranger--in whom I am
interested? Pray say Yes, by the bearer, and oblige your affectionate
nephew,

"JULIAN GRAY."

Lady Janet referred again suspiciously to the sentence in the letter
which alluded to the "lady."

Julian Gray was her only surviving nephew, the son of a favorite sister
whom she had lost. He would have held no very exalted position in the
estimation of his aunt--who regarded his views in politics and religion
with the strongest aversion--but for his marked resemblance to his
mother. This pleaded for him with the old lady, aided as it was by the
pride that she secretly felt in the early celebrity which the young
clergyman had achieved as a writer and a preacher. Thanks to these
mitigating circumstances, and to Julian's inexhaustible good-humor, the
aunt and the nephew generally met on friendly terms. Apart from what
she called "his detestable opinions," Lady Janet was sufficiently
interested in Julian to feel some curiosity about the mysterious "lady"
mentioned in the letter. Had he determined to settle in life? Was his
choice already made? And if so, would it prove to be a choice acceptable
to the family? Lady Janet's bright face showed signs of doubt as she
asked herself that last question. Julian's liberal views were capable of
leading him to dangerous extremes. His aunt shook her head ominously as
she rose from the sofa and advanced to the library door.

"Grace," she said, pausing and turning round, "I have a note to write to
my nephew. I shall be back directly."

Mercy approached her, from the opposite extremity of the room, with an
exclamation of surprise.

"Your nephew?" she repeated. "Your ladyship never told me you had a
nephew."

Lady Janet laughed. "I must have had it on the tip of my tongue to tell
you, over and over again," she said. "But we have had so many things to
talk about--and, to own the truth, my nephew is not one of my favorite
subjects of conversation. I don't mean that I dislike him; I detest
his principles, my dear, that's all. However, you shall form your own
opinion of him; he is coming to see me to-day. Wait here till I return;
I have something more to say about Horace."

Mercy opened the library door for her, closed it again, and walked
slowly to and fro alone in the room, thinking.

Was her mind running on Lady Janet's nephew?