horror at the
idea of washing him is worth seeing. Her brown old face was almost
convulsed, and she and our Frau-wirthin concurred in assuring me that
it would be fatal to _der kleine baron_ if he were washed, except
with white wine and milk at a fortnight old; nor would they accept my
assurance that my three daughters and seven grandchildren had
survived the process. I have to do it myself, and dress him as I
can, for his wardrobe as made here is not complete, and whatever you
can send us will be highly acceptable. It is lucky that Northmoor is
a born nurse, for the women's fear of breaking the child is really
justifiable, as they never handled anything not made up into a mummy;
moreover, they wish to let all the world up into Mary's room to
behold the curiosity, I met the priest upon his way and turned him
back! So we have pretty well all the nursing on our hands, and
happily it is of the most satisfactory kind, with the one drawback
that we have to call in the services of a 'valia'; but on the other
hand we have all been so much interested in a poor little widow,
Hedwig Grantzen, whose husband was lost last spring in a snow-storm,
that it is pleasant to have some employment for her. Such a creature
as came over on chance and speculation--a great coarse handsome girl,
in exaggerated costume, all new, with lacy ribbons down her back; but
I rode over to Botzen, and interviewed her parish priest about her,
and that was enough to settle her. Every one is asleep except
myself, and Mary's face is one smile as she sleeps.

'This is going to be posted by the last of the tourists, luckily a
clergyman, whom we begged to baptize the boy, as there is a
possibility that snows may close us in before we can get away.

'So he is named Michael Kenton, partly after my own dear brother as
well as the old founder, partly in honour of the day and of Sir
Edward Kenton, who, they say, has been their very kind friend. It
really is a feast to see people so wonderingly happy and thankful.
The little creature has all the zest of novelty to them, and they coo
and marvel over it in perfect felicity. When you will be introduced
to the hero, I cannot guess, for though he has been an earlier
arrival than his mother's inexperience expected, I much doubt her
being able to get out of this place while the w