erity one of
the unhappiest women, I should say, that you could meet
anywhere. You know so much of her affairs that, without
breach of trust, I may say so much. I wish she had a
father or a brother to manage her matters for her; but
she has none, and I cannot desert her. Your Lord Fawn is
behaving badly to her; and so, as far as I can see, are
the people who manage the Eustace property. Lizzie, as you
know, is not the most tractable of women, and altogether
I have more to do in the matter than I like. Riding ten
miles backwards and forwards so often over the same route
on a little pony is not good fun, but I am almost glad the
distance is not less. Otherwise I might have been always
there. I know you don't quite like Lizzie, but she is to
be pitied.

I go up to London on Friday, but shall only be there for
one or two days,--that is, for one night. I go almost
entirely on her business, and must, I fear, be here again,
or at the castle, before I can settle myself either
for work or happiness. On Sunday night I go down to
Bobsborough,--where, indeed, I ought to have been earlier.
I fear I cannot go to Richmond on the Saturday, and on the
Sunday Lady Fawn would hardly make me welcome. I shall be
at Bobsborough for about three weeks, and there, if you
have commands to give, I will obey them.

I may, however, tell you the truth at once,--though it
is a truth you must keep very much to yourself. In the
position in which I now stand as to Lord Fawn,--being
absolutely forced to quarrel with him on Lizzie's
behalf,--Lady Fawn could hardly receive me with comfort
to herself. She is the best of women; and, as she is your
dear friend, nothing is further from me than any idea of
quarrelling with her; but of course she takes her son's
part, and I hardly know how all allusion to the subject
could be avoided.

This, however, dearest, need ruffle no feather between you
and me, who love each other better than we love either the
Fawns or the Lizzies. Let me find a line at my chambers to
say that it is so, and always shall be so.

God bless my own darling,
Ever and always your own,

F. G.

On the following day he rode over to the castle. He had received a
letter from John Eustace, who had found himself forced to run up to
London to meet Mr. Camperdown. The lawyer had thought to postpone
further considera