m bold. Beauty, like
royalty, has its own prerogatives."

For a fortnight after the adventures just related, John, in pursuance of
his oft-repeated resolution not to see Dorothy, rode every evening to
Bowling Green Gate; but during that time he failed to see her, and the
resolutions, with each failure, became weaker and fewer.

One evening, after many disappointments, John came to my room bearing in
his hands a letter which he said Jennie Faxton had delivered to him at
Bowling Green Gate.

"Mistress Vernon," said John, "and Lady Madge Stanley will ride to
Derby-town to-morrow. They will go in the Haddon Hall coach, and Dawson
will drive. Mistress Vernon writes to me thus:--

"'To SIR JOHN MANNERS:--

"'My good wishes and my kind greeting. Lady Madge Stanley, my good
aunt, Lady Crawford, and myself do intend journeying to Derby-town
to-morrow. My aunt, Lady Crawford, is slightly ill, and although I
should much regret to see her sickness grow greater, yet if ill she
must be, I do hope that her worst day will be upon the morrow, in
which case she could not accompany Lady Madge and me. I shall nurse my
good aunt carefully this day, and shall importune her to take
plentifully of physic that she may quickly recover her health--after
to-morrow. Should a gentleman ask of Will Dawson, who will be in the
tap-room of the Royal Arms at eleven o'clock of the morning, Dawson
will be glad to inform the gentleman concerning Lady Crawford's
health. Let us hope that the physic will cure Lady Crawford--by the
day after to-morrow at furthest. The said Will Dawson may be trusted.
With great respect,

DOROTHY VERNON.'"

"I suppose the gentleman will be solicitous concerning Lady Crawford's
health to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock," said I.

"The gentleman is now solicitous concerning Lady Crawford's health,"
answered John, laughingly. "Was there ever a lady more fair and gracious
than Mistress Vernon?"

I smiled with a superior air at John's weakness, being, as you know,
entirely free from his complaint myself, and John continued:--

"Perhaps you would call Mistress Dorothy bold for sending me this letter?"

"It is redolent with shyness," I answered. "But would you really wish poor
Lady Crawford to be ill that you might witness Mistress Dorothy's
modesty?"

"Please don't jest on that subject," said John, seriously. "I would wish
anything, I fear, that would brin