n always receives with pleasure. But
it failed to satisfy my uncle and my aunt. The vicar expressed to Mr.
Woodville a wish to write to his mother, or to see her, on the subject
of her strange message. Eustace obstinately declined to mention his
mother's address, on the ground that the vicar's interference would be
utterly useless. My uncle at once drew the conclusion that the mystery
about the address indicated something wrong. He refused to favor Mr.
Woodville's renewed proposal for my hand, and he wrote the same day to
make inquiries of Mr. Woodville's reference and of his own friend Major
Fitz-David.

Under such circumstances as these, to speak of my uncle's motives was
to venture on very delicate ground. Eustace relieved me from further
embarrassment by asking a question to which I could easily reply.

"Has your uncle received any answer from Major Fitz-David?" he inquired.

"Yes.

"Were you allowed to read it?" His voice sank as he said those words;
his face betrayed a sudden anxiety which it pained me to see.

"I have got the answer with me to show you," I said.

He almost snatched the letter out of my hand; he turned his back on me
to read it by the light of the moon. The letter was short enough to be
soon read. I could have repeated it at the time. I can repeat it now.

"DEAR VICAR--Mr. Eustace Woodville is quite correct in stating to you
that he is a gentleman by birth and position, and that he inherits
(under his deceased father's will) an independent fortune of two
thousand a year.

"Always yours,

"LAWRENCE FITZ-DAVID."

"Can anybody wish for a plainer answer than that?" Eustace asked,
handing the letter back to me.

"If _I_ had written for information about you," I answered, "it would
have been plain enough for me."

"Is it not plain enough for your uncle?"

"No."

"What does he say?"

"Why need you care to know, my darling?"

"I want to know, Valeria. There must be no secret between us in this
matter. Did your uncle say anything when he showed you the major's
letter?"

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"My uncle told me that his letter of inquiry filled three pages, and he
bade me observe that the major's answer contained one sentence only. He
said, 'I volunteered to go to Major Fitz-David and talk the matter over.
You see he takes no notice of my proposal. I asked him for the address
of Mr. Woodville's mother. He passes over my