ty.

'Mrs. Shorne comes here to-morrow. She is at present with--guess, my
dear!--with Lady Racial. Do not be alarmed. I have met Lady Racial. She
heard Evan's name, and by that and the likeness I saw she knew at once,
and I saw a truce in her eyes. She gave me a tacit assurance of it--she
was engaged to dine here yesterday, and put it off--probably to grant us
time for composure. If she comes I do not fear her. Besides, has she not
reasons? Providence may have designed her for a staunch ally--I will not
say, confederate.

'Would that Providence had fixed this beautiful mansion five hundred
miles from L-----, though it were in a desolate region! And that reminds
me of the Madre. She is in health. She always will be overbearingly
robust till the day we are bereft of her. There was some secret in
the house when I was there, which I did not trouble to penetrate. That
little Jane F----was there--not improved.

'Pray, be firm about Torquay. Estates mortgaged, but hopes of saving a
remnant of the property. Third son! Don't commit yourself there. We dare
not baronetize him. You need not speak it--imply. More can be done that
way.

'And remember, dear Harriet, that you must manage Andrew so that we
may positively promise his vote to the Ministry on all questions when
Parliament next assembles. I understood from Lord Livelyston, that
Andrew's vote would be thought much of. A most amusing nobleman!
He pledged himself to nothing! But we are above such a thing as a
commercial transaction. He must countenance Silva. Women, my dear, have
sent out armies--why not fleets? Do not spare me your utmost aid in my
extremity, my dearest sister.

'As for Strike, I refuse to speak of him. He is insufferable and next
to useless. How can one talk with any confidence of relationship with
a Major of Marines? When I reflect on what he is, and his conduct to
Caroline, I have inscrutable longings to slap his face. Tell dear
Carry her husband's friend--the chairman or something of that wonderful
company of Strike's--you know--the Duke of Belfield is coming here. He
is a blood-relation of the Elburnes, therefore of the Jocelyns. It
will not matter at all. Breweries, I find, are quite in esteem in your
England. It was highly commendable in his Grace to visit you. Did he
come to see the Major of Marines? Caroline is certainly the loveliest
woman I ever beheld, and I forgive her now the pangs of jealousy she
used to make me feel.

'Andrew, I hope,