ric is engaged
to her.

No doubt he was engaged to her. It was a great misfortune,
but, thank God, is not yet past remedy. He has some
foolish feeling of what he calls honour; as if a man can
be bound in honour to marry a woman who has deceived him
in every point! She still sticks to the diamonds,--if
she has not sold them, as I believe she has; and Mr.
Camperdown is going to bring an action against her in
the High Court of Chancery. But still Frederic will not
absolutely declare the thing off. I feel, therefore, that
it is my duty to let him know what I have learned. I
should be the last to stir in such a matter unless I was
sure I could prove it. But I don't quite like to write to
Frederic. Will mamma see him, and tell him what I say? Of
course you will show this letter to mamma. If not, I must
postpone it till I am in town;--but I think it would come
better from mamma. Mamma may be sure that she is a bad
woman.

And now what do you think of your Mr. Greystock? As sure
as I am here he was seen with his arm round his cousin's
waist, sitting out of doors,--_kissing her!_ I was never
taken in by that story of his marrying Lucy Morris. He is
the last man in the world to marry a governess. He is over
head and ears in debt, and if he marries at all, he must
marry some one with money. I really think that mamma,
and you, and all of you have been soft about that girl.
I believe she has been a good governess,--that is, good
after mamma's easy fashion; and I don't for a moment
suppose that she is doing anything underhand. But a
governess with a lover never does suit, and I'm sure it
won't suit in this case. If I were you I would tell her.
I think it would be the best charity. Whether they mean
to marry I can't tell,--Mr. Greystock, that is, and this
woman; _but they ought to mean it_;--that's all.

Let me know at once whether mamma will see Frederic, and
speak to him openly. She is quite at liberty to use my
name; only nobody but mamma should see this letter.

Love to them all,
Your most affectionate sister,

CLARA HITTAWAY.

In writing to Amelia instead of to her mother, Mrs. Hittaway was sure
that she was communicating her ideas to at least two persons at Fawn
Court, and that therefore there would be discussion. Had she written
to her mother, her mother might probably have held her peace, and