sure of
what he wants in life as is M. E. (M. E. stood for "My
Employer"--names were invidious). They would be a perfect match, each
as selfish as the other, I should say. He is really very cultivated,
and believes her to be so, too. She has not made a single mistake as
yet, but frightened me at luncheon a little. I must try and get her
to keep him off classical subjects. She intends to marry him--and
then she will not require me, I suppose; or rather, I do not think he
would permit her to keep me. If it came to a measure of wills, he
would win, I think--at first, at least--but she could wear away a
stone in the end, as you know. The arranging of this place is still
amusing her, so she may decide to spend a good deal of time here. She
closed her mouth with that firm snap this morning that I have
described to you often, and said that it was going to be her delight
to make them put themselves out and come so far away from London for
her. "Them," for the moment, are Mr. Derringham and Mr.
Hanbury-Green, almost a Socialist person, who is on the other
side--very brilliantly clever but with a Cockney accent in one or two
words. M. E. does not notice this, of course. Mr. H-G. is in love
with her--Mr. D. is not, but she is determined that he shall be. I do
not know if he intends to marry her. He is making up his mind, I
think, therefore I must be doubly careful not to allow her to commit
any mistakes, because if she did it would certainly estrange him, and
as to keep her free is so much to our advantage, I feel I must be
extra careful in doing my duty.

Arabella was a person of scrupulous honor.

She then proceeded to describe the party, and concluded with,

There is one American girl I like very much--perfectly natural and
bubbling with spirits, saying aloud everything she thinks, really
well educated and taking so much outdoor exercise that she has not
yet begun to have the nervous attacks that are such a distressing
feature of so many of her countrywomen. I am told it is their
climate. M. E. says it is because the men out there have always let
them have their own way. I should think so much smoking has something
to do with it.

John Derringham meanwhile had gone with his hostess and some of the rest
of the party, Mr. Hanbury-Green among them, to inspect the small golf
links Mrs. Cricklander was