r. But her own reverence for her own noble
relatives was so great that she could not understand, even yet, that
all such feeling was wanting to her niece. It was to her impossible
that the expressed opinion of such an one as the Countess of
Midlothian, owning her relationship and solicitude, and condescending
at the same time to express friendship,--she could not, I say,
understand that the voice of such an one, so speaking, should have no
weight whatever. But I think that she had been quite right in keeping
out of Alice's way at the moment of the arrival of the letter. Alice
read it, slowly, and then replacing it in its envelope, leaned back
quietly in her chair,--with her eyes fixed upon the teapot on the
table. She had, however, the other letter on which to occupy her
mind, and thus relieve her from the effects of too deep an animosity
against the Countess.

The Lady Glencora's letter was as follows:

Matching Priory,
Thursday.

DEAR COUSIN,

I have just come home from Scotland, where they have been
telling me something of your little troubles. I had little
troubles once too, and you were so good to me! Will you
come to us here for a few weeks? We shall be here till
Christmas-time, when we go somewhere else. I have told my
husband that you are a great friend of mine as well as a
cousin, and that he must be good to you. He is very quiet,
and works very hard at politics; but I think you will like
him. Do come! There will be a good many people here, so
that you will not find it dull. If you will name the day
we will send the carriage for you at Matching Station, and
I dare say I can manage to come myself.

Yours affectionately,

G. PALLISER.

P.S. I know what will be in your mind. You will say, why
did not she come to me in London? She knew the way to
Queen Anne Street well enough. Dear Alice, don't say that.
Believe me, I had much to do and think of in London. And
if I was wrong, yet you will forgive me. Mr Palliser says
I am to give you his love,--as being a cousin,--and say
that you must come!

This letter was certainly better than the other, but Alice, on
reading it, came to a resolve that she would not accept the
invitation. In the first place, even that allusion to her little
troubles jarred upon her feelings; and then she thought that her
rejection of Mr Grey could be no special reason why she should go to
Matching Priory.