more enviable than any other gift
the gods can give. Words cannot penetrate that skin of his. Satire
flows off him like water from a duck. Ridicule does not touch him.
The fellest abuse does not succeed in inflicting the slightest wound.
He has learnt the great secret that a man cannot be cut who will not
be cut. As it is worth no man's while to protract an enmity with
such a one as he, he suffers from no prolonged enmities. He walks
unassailable by any darts, and is, I should say, the happiest man in
London."

"Then I fear you can do nothing for me at Glenbogie. To mollify Aunt
Emmeline would, I fear, be beyond your power. Sir Thomas, as far as I
can see, does not require much mollifying."

"Sir Thomas might give the young woman a thousand or two."

"That is not the way in which I desire to keep a good hat on my
head," said Hamel, as he seated himself in the little carriage which
was to take him down to Callerfoot.

The Colonel remained at Drumcaller till the end of September, when
his presence was required at Aldershot,--during which time he shot
a good deal, in obedience to the good-natured behests of Lord
Glentower, and in spite of the up-turned nose of Mr. Traffick. He
read much, and smoked much,--so that as to the passing of his time
there was not need to pity him, and he consumed a portion of his
spare hours in a correspondence with his aunt, the Marchesa, and with
his cousin Nina. One of his letters from each shall be given,--and
also one of the letters written to each in reply.

NINA TO HER COUSIN THE COLONEL.

MY DEAR JONATHAN,

Lady Albury says that you ought to be here, and so you
ought. It is ever so nice. There is a Mr. Ponsonby here,
and he and I can beat any other couple at lawn tennis.
There is an awning over the ground, which is such a
lounge. Playing lawn tennis with a parasol as those
Melcombe girls did is stupid. They were here, but have
gone. One I am quite sure was over head and ears in love
with Mr. Ponsonby. These sort of things are always all
on one side, you know. He isn't very much of a man, but
he does play lawn tennis divinely. Take it altogether, I
don't think there is anything out to beat lawn tennis. I
don't know about hunting,--and I don't suppose I ever
shall.

We tried to have Ayala here, but I fear it will not come
off. Lady Albury was good-natured, but at last she did not
quite like writing to Mrs. Dosett. So mamm