an I can tell you that my friend East has taken
him as his servant. He couldn't be under a better master. Poor
Harry! I sometimes think his case is more hopeless than my own.
How is it to come right? or mine?"

ENGLEBOURN

"DEAR COUSIN,--You will believe how I devoured your letter;
though, when I had read the first few lines and saw what was
coming, it made me stop and tremble. At first I could have cried
over it for vexation; but, now I have thought about it a little,
I really do not see any reason to be discouraged. At any rate,
Uncle Robert now knows all about it, and will get used to the
idea, and Mary seems to have received you just as you ought to
have wished that she should. I am thankful that you have left off
pressing me to write to her about you, for I am sure that would
not be honorable; and, to reward you, I enclose a letter of hers,
which came yesterday. You will see that she speaks with such
pleasure of having just caught a glimpse of you that you need not
regret the shortness of the interview. You could not expect her
to say more, because, after all, she can only guess; and I cannot
do more than answer as if I were quite innocent too. I am sure
you will be very thankful to me some day for not having been your
mouthpiece, as I was so very near being. You need not return the
letter. I suppose I am getting more hopeful as I grow
older--indeed, I am sure I am; for three or four years ago I
should have been in despair about you, and now I am nearly sure
that all will come right."

"But, indeed, cousin Tom, you cannot, or ought not to wonder at
Uncle Robert's objecting to your opinions. And then I am so
surprised to find you saying that you think you may very likely
change them. Because, if that is the case, it would be so much
better if you would not write and talk about them. Unless you are
quite convinced of such things as you write in that dreadful
paper, you really ought not to go on writing them so very much as
if you believed them."

"And now I am speaking to you about this, which I have often had
on my mind to speak to you about, I must ask you not to send me
that _Wessex Freeman_ any more. I am always delighted to hear
what you think; and there is a great deal in the articles you
mark for me which seems very fine; and I dare say you quite
believe it all when you write it. Only I am afraid lest papa or
anyone of the servants should open the papers, or get hold of
them after I have opened them;