her thing (and this is very, _very_ secret,
so secret that you must _swear_ you'll tear up this letter
_at once_, the moment you have read it). You remember you
and the other girls used to laugh at me at school about my
brown neck and my brown eyelids, and my brownish knuckles.
You used to chaff me and tell me it was because I hadn't
washed. Well, you were all wrong, and I told you at the time
you were all wrong. I have just been reading a most
interesting book, all about these things (but you must never
let Peachy know about it, as it is one of father's and I
have been reading it on the sly). Remember you've sworn to
tear this letter up. In any case it explains all about my
brown neck and my brown eyelids and knuckles. It calls it
'Pigmentation'--the '_pigmentation of the mature virgin_.'
Isn't it interesting? So you see it was quite natural; and I
can't help it; on the contrary it shows I am very vigorous.
So you were all wrong--even Miss Butterworth who said I was
afraid of cold water.

"But I'll forgive everything to my sweet Nessy if only, _if
only_ she will come to the bosom of her love at Brineweald.

"With crates of kisses,

"Yours ever,

"LEO."

"P.S. Excuse this short scribble. I must go to dress. Tell
Charlie that if he has not kissed that horrid Dewlap girl
yet, I send him a nice long kiss. By-the-bye, he's such a
blind fool, he won't have noticed she bites her nails. _Do_
tell him!

"Yours LEO."

This letter written, sealed, and stamped, Leonetta put on a
tam-o'-shanter, and ran to the post with it; whereupon hurrying
upstairs, she burst violently into her mother's bedroom, to announce
what she had done. It was half-past six and her mother was dressing.

Now Mrs. Delarayne's toilet, as may be imagined, was an unusually
elaborate and skilful business. Every corner of her large bedroom seemed
to offer its contribution towards the final effect. The bed, the chairs,
and even the mantelpiece participated in the process, while cupboard and
wardrobe doors stood ominously open.

Mrs. Delarayne's maid Wilmott,--silent, grave, preoccupied and
efficient,--moved hither and thither, calmly but quickly, her head
discreetly bowed, her voice more subdued than at ordinary