n the celebration of your
house-warming--"

"Oh, that's Meek," said Linton. "And now for this rugged little hand
here.

"Lady Janet and Sir Andrew MacFarline--"

"Strange style,--the lady first," interposed Miss Leicester.

"She is always so," said Linton, continuing the perusal--

--"will reach Tubbermore by Tuesday, and have only to request that their
apartments may not have a north aspect, as Lady J. has still a heavy
cold hanging over her. Sir A.'s man, Flint, will arrange the rooms
himself and, with Mr. Cashel's permission, give directions about double
doors--if there be none.

"Sir A. has taken the liberty of mentioning to Gordon that the sherry
is far too hot and acrid, and hopes Mr. Cashel will pardon his having
ordered some dozens of 'Amontillado' for trial. Lady J. asks, as a
favor, that plants and flowers may be banished from the house during her
brief stay, Dr. Grimes positively forbidding all herbaceous odors; and
if the cook could make the 'cuisine' particularly simple, it would also
oblige her, as Dr. G. says she ought not to be exposed to the irritation
of tempting viands, even to see them at table.

"Lady J. hopes that the society will be cheerful without dissipation,
and gay without debauch; above all, she stipulates for early hours, and
trusts that by eleven, at latest, the house will have retired to rest.
Lady Janet has no objection to meeting any one Mr. Cashel may honor with
his invitation, but leaves it to Mr. C.'s discretion not to abuse this
liberality. Were she to particularize, she should merely suggest that
the Kennyfecks, except perhaps the elder girl, are odious--Mrs. White a
perfect horror--the Meeks something too atrocious--and that rather
than meet the Kilgoffs and their set, Lady J. would almost prefer to
relinquish all her much-anticipated pleasure. Mr. Linton can be,
and very often is, gentlemanlike and amusing, but 'Lintonism,' as
occasionally practised, is intolerable.

"Lady Janet has ventured on these remarks, far less for her own
convenience than in the discharge of what she feels to be a duty to
a very young and inexperienced man, whose unsuspecting nature will
inevitably expose him to the very insidious attacks of selfishness,
cunning, and to that species of dictation that sooner or later ends in
debasing and degrading him who permits himself to be its subject.

"Janet MacFarline."

"What a chaste specimen of disinterestedness her Ladyship's own letter,"
said Mary.