side wind that Vrain was rich, and had a
splendid mansion in the country; so I hinted to Lydia that as it seemed
difficult to get her a young husband, it would be better for her to
marry a rich old one. At that time Lydia was in love with, and almost
engaged to, Count Ercole Ferruci, a penniless Italian nobleman, who
courted my pretty girl less for her beauty than for her supposed wealth.
When I suggested that Lydia should marry Vrain, she refused at first to
entertain the idea; but afterwards, seeing that the man was old and
weak, she thought it would be a good thing as his wife to inherit his
money, and then, as his widow, to marry Ferruci. I think, also, that the
pointed dislike which Diana Vrain manifested for us both--although I am
bound to say she hated Lydia more than she did me--had a great deal to
do with my daughter marrying Vrain. However, the end of it was that
Lydia broke off her engagement with Ferruci--and very mad he was at
losing her--and married Mark Vrain in Florence.

"After the marriage the old man, who at that time was quite infatuated
with Lydia, made a will leaving her his assurance money of L20,000, but
the house near Bath, and the land, he left to Diana. I am bound to say
that Lydia behaved very well in this matter, as she could have had all
the money and land, but she was content with the assurance money, and
did not rob Diana Vrain of her birthright. Yet Diana hated her, and
still hates her; but I ask any one who reads this confession if my dear
Lyddy is not the better woman of the two? Who dares to say that such a
sweet girl is guilty of the crimes she is charged with?

"Well, the marriage took place, and we all journeyed home to Berwin
Manor; but here things went from bad to worse. Old Vrain took again to
his morphia, and nothing would restrain him; then Lydia and Diana fought
constantly, and each wished the other out of the house. I tried to keep
the peace, and blamed Lyddy--who is no saint, I admit--for the way in
which she was treating Diana. With Miss Vrain I got on very well, and
tried to make things easy for her; but in the end the ill-will between
her and my Lydia became so strong that Diana left the house, and went
out to Australia to live with some relatives.

"So Lydia and I and old Vrain were left alone, and I thought that
everything would be right. So it would have been if Lydia had not put
matters wrong again by inviting Ferruci over to stay. But she would
insist upon doing