cousins quite as
carefully as she might have done. She is fully as sensible
of this as I am, and is, herself, persuaded that there had
better be a change.

Now, my dear Reginald, I am quite aware that when poor
Egbert died it was I who chose Ayala, and that you took
Lucy partly in compliance with my wishes. Now I write to
suggest that there should be a change. I am sure you will
give me credit for a desire to do the best I can for both
the poor dear girls. I did think that this might be best
done by letting Ayala come to us. I now think that Lucy
would do better with her cousins, and that Ayala would be
more attractive without the young people around her.

When I see you I will tell you everything. There has been
no great fault. She has spoken a word or two to me which
had been better unsaid, but I am well convinced that it
has come from hot temper and not from a bad heart. Perhaps
I had better tell you the truth. Tom has admired her. She
has behaved very well; but she could not bear to be spoken
to, and so there have been unpleasantnesses. And the girls
certainly have not got on well together. Sir Thomas quite
agrees with me that if you will consent there had better
be a change.

I will not write to dear Lucy herself because you and
Margaret can explain it all so much better,--if you will
consent to our plan. Ayala also will write to her sister.
But pray tell her from me that I will love her very dearly
if she will come to me. And indeed I have loved Ayala
almost as though she were my own, only we have not been
quite able to hit it off together.

Of course neither has Sir Thomas or have I any idea of
escaping from a responsibility. I should be quite unhappy
if I did not have one of poor dear Egbert's girls with me.
Only I do think that Lucy would be the best for us; and
Ayala thinks so too. I should be quite unhappy if I were
doing this in opposition to Ayala.

We shall be in England almost as soon as this letter, and
I should be so glad if this could be decided at once. If
a thing like this is to be done it is so much better for
all parties that it should be done quickly. Pray give my
best love to Margaret, and tell her that Ayala shall bring
everything with her that she wants.

Your most affectionate sister,

EMMELINE TRINGLE.

The letter, though it was much longer than he