e had means of close
observation. She was in constant correspondence with John Eames, and
never failed to acquaint him when any of the barriers were, in her
judgment, giving way. The nature of some of the barriers may possibly
be made intelligible to my readers by the following letter from Lady
Julia De Guest to her young friend.

GUESTWICK COTTAGE, -- December, 186--

MY DEAR JOHN,

I am much obliged to you for going to Jones's. I send
stamps for two shillings and fourpence, which is what I
owe to you. It used only to be two shillings and twopence,
but they say everything has got to be dearer now, and
I suppose pills as well as other things. Only think
of Pritchard coming to me, and saying she wanted her
wages raised, after living with me for twenty years! I
was _very_ angry, and scolded her roundly; but as she
acknowledged she had been wrong, and cried and begged my
pardon, I did give her two guineas a year more.

I saw dear Lily just for a moment on Sunday, and upon my
word I think she grows prettier every year. She had a
young friend with her,--a Miss Crawley,--who, I believe,
is the cousin I have heard you speak of. What is this sad
story about her father, the clergyman? Mind you tell me
all about it.

It is quite true what I told you about the De Courcys. Old
Lady De Courcy is in London, and Mr. Crosbie is going to
law with her about his wife's money. He has been at it
in one way or the other ever since poor Lady Alexandrina
died. I wish she had lived, with all my heart. For though
I feel sure that our Lily will never willingly see him
again, yet the tidings of her death disturbed her, and set
her thinking of things that were fading from her mind. I
rated her soundly, not mentioning your name, however; but
she only kissed me, and told me in her quiet drolling way
that I didn't mean a word of what I said.

You can come here whenever you please after the tenth of
January. But if you come early in January you must go to
your mother first, and come to me for the last week of your
holiday. Go to Blackie's in Regent Street, and bring me
down all the colours in wool that I ordered. I said you
would call. And tell them at Dolland's the last spectacles
don't suit at all, and I won't keep them; they had better
send me down, by you, one or two more pairs to try. And
you had better see Smithers and S