r I quite class her with the opposite sex.

'You must know that before I retired for the night, I induced Conning
to think she had a bad head-ache, and Rose lent me her lady's-maid--they
call the creature Polly. A terrible talker. She would tell all about the
family. Rose has been speaking of Evan. It would have looked better had
she been quiet--but then she is so English!'

Here the Countess breaks off to say, that from where she is writing,
she can see Rose and Evan walking out to the cypress avenue, and that no
eyes are on them; great praise being given to the absence of suspicion
in the Jocelyn nature.

The communication is resumed the night of the same day.

'Two days at Beckley Court are over, and that strange sensation I had
of being an intruder escaped from Dubbins's, and expecting every instant
the old schoolmistress to call for me, and expose me, and take me to
the dark room, is quite vanished, and I feel quite at home, quite happy.
Evan is behaving well. Quite the young nobleman. With the women I had
no fear of him; he is really admirable with the men--easy, and talks of
sport and politics, and makes the proper use of Portugal. He has quite
won the heart of his sister. Heaven smiles on us, dearest Harriet!

'We must be favoured, my dear, for Evan is very
troublesome--distressingly inconsiderate! I left him for a day-remaining
to comfort poor Mama--and on the road he picked up an object he had
known at school, and this creature, in shameful garments, is seen in the
field where Rose and Evan are riding--in a dreadful hat--Rose might well
laugh at it!--he is seen running away from an old apple woman, whose
fruit he had consumed without means to liquidate; but, of course,
he rushes bolt up to Evan before all his grand company, and claims
acquaintance, and Evan was base enough to acknowledge him! He disengaged
himself so far well by tossing his purse to the wretch, but if he knows
not how to--cut, I assure him it will be his ruin. Resolutely he must
cast the dust off his shoes, or he will be dragged down to their level.
By the way, as to hands and feet, comparing him with the Jocelyn men, he
has every mark of better blood. Not a question about it. As Papa would
say--We have Nature's proof.

'Looking out on a beautiful lawn, and the moon, and all sorts of trees,
I must now tell you about the ladies here.

'Conning undid me to-night. While Conning remains unattached, Conning
is likely to be serviceable. If Ev