wood and me, but not Mrs. Dashwood, who said she was Early
Victorian, and ought to have died long ago. She worked. Lady
Dashwood said that she smoked because she was a silly old heathen,
and that made me feel beastly. It wasn't fair--but Lady Dashwood is
often rather nasty. But afterwards _he_ was nice, and asked me to
play my reverie by Slapovski. I have never forgotten it, Mummy,
though I haven't been taught it for six months. I am telling you
everything so that you know what has happened. Well, Mr. Borham
said, 'For God's sake don't let's have any music.' He said that like
he always does. It is very rude. Of course I refused to play, and
the Warden was so nice, and he looked at me very straight and did
not look at Mrs. Dashwood now. I think it must be all right. He sat
in an armchair opposite us, and put his elbow on the arm and held
the back of his neck--he does that, and smoked again and stared all
the time at the carpet by Mrs. Dashwood's shoes, and never looked at
her, but talked a lot. I can't understand what they say, and it is
worse now Mrs. D. is here. Only once I saw him look up at her, and
then he had that severe look. So I don't think any harm has
happened. You know what I mean, Mummie. I was afraid he might like
her. I tell you everything so as you can judge and advise me, for I
could not tell all this to old Lady Dashwood, of course. Lady
Dashwood says smoking cigars in the drawing-room is good for the
furniture!!! I thought it very disgusting of Mr. Borham to say, 'For
God's sake.' He used not to believe in God, and even now he hasn't
settled whether there is a God. We are all to go to Chartcote House
for lunch. There is to be a Bazaar--I forget what for, somewhere. I
have no money except half-a-crown. I have not paid for my laundry,
so I can leave that in a drawer. Now, dear Mummy, do write at once
and say exactly what I am to do, and tell me if I am engaged or not.

"Your affectionate daughter,

"Gwen.

"I like the Warden ever so much, and partly because he does not wear
a beard. I feel very excited, but am trying not to. Mrs. D. is to
stay a whole week, till I go on the 3rd."

Gwen laid down her pen and sat looking at the sheet of paper before her.
She had told her m