very different place in your
regard--"

"Instead of saying 'were come,' Loo, just say, 'If the time might come,"
said May, timidly.

"Well, then, 'if the time _might_ come,' I _might_ tell all that I know
about him."

"But then it might be too late. I mean, that it might come when it could
only grieve, and not guide me."

"Oh, if I thought _that_, you should never know it! Be assured of one
thing, May: no one ever less warred against the inevitable than myself.
When I read, 'No passage this way,' I never hesitate about seeking
another road."

"And I mean to go mine, and without a guide either!" said May, moving
towards the door.

"So I perceived some time back," was the dry reply of Mrs. Morris, as
she busied herself with the papers before her.

"Good-night, dear, and forgive my interruption," said May, opening the
door.

"Good-night, and delightful dreams to you," said Mrs. Morris, in her own
most silvery accents. And May was gone.

The door had not well closed when Mrs. Morris was again, pen in hand,
glancing rapidly over what she had written, to catch up the clew. This
was quickly accomplished, and she wrote away rapidly. It is not "in our
brief" to read that letter; nor would it be "evidence;" enough, then,
that we say it was one of those light, sparkling little epistles which
are thrown off in close confidence, and in which the writer fearlessly
touches any theme that offers. She sketched off the Heathcotes with
a few easy graphic touches, giving a very pleasing portraiture of May
herself, ending with these words:--

"Add to all these attractions a large estate and a considerable sum in
the funds, and then say, dear pa, is not this what Ludlow had so long
been looking for? I am well aware of his pleasant habit of believing
nothing, nor any one, so that you must begin by referring him to
Doctors' Commons, where he can see the will. General Leslie died in
18--, and left Sir William Heathcote sole executor. When fully satisfied
on the money question, you can learn anything further from me that
you wish; one thing only I stipulate for, and that is, to hold no
correspondence myself with L. Of course, like as in everything else,
he'll not put any faith in this resolution; but time will teach him at
last. The negotiation must be confided to your own hands. Do not employ
Collier nor any one else. Be secret, and be speedy, for I plainly
perceive the young lady will marry some one immediately after learning a