hat is
civil to him. He and the Eardham girls had been exceedingly intimate,
but he had had no idea whatever of sharing Newton Priory with an
Eardham. Now, however, in his misery he was glad to go to a house in
which he would be received with an assured welcome.

Everybody smiled upon him. Sir George in these days was very cordial,
greeting him with that genial esoteric warmth which is always felt by
one English country gentleman with a large estate for another equally
blessed. Six months ago, when it was believed that Ralph had sold
his inheritance to his uncle, Sir George when he met the young man
addressed him in a very different fashion. As he entered the room he
felt the warmth of the welcoming. The girls, one and all, had ever so
many things to say to him. They all hunted, and they all wanted him
to look at horses for them. Lady Eardham was more matronly than ever,
and at the same time was a little fussy. She would not leave him
among the girls, and at last succeeded in getting him off into a
corner of the back drawing-room. "Now, Mr. Newton," she said, "I am
going to show you that I put the greatest confidence in you."

"So you may," said Ralph, wondering whether one of the girls was to
be offered to him, out of hand. At the present moment he was so low
in spirits that he would probably have taken either.

"I have had a letter," said Lady Eardham, whispering the words into
his ear;--and then she paused. "Such a strange letter, and very
abominable. I've shown it to no one,--not even to Sir George. I
wouldn't let one of the girls see it for ever so much." Then there
was another pause. "I don't believe a word of it, Mr. Newton; but I
think it right to show it to you,--because it's about you."

"About me?" said Ralph, with his mind fixed at once upon Mr. Neefit.

"Yes, indeed;--and when I tell you it refers to my girls too, you
will see how strong is my confidence in you. If either had been
specially named, of course I could not have shown it." Then she
handed him the letter, which poor Ralph read, as follows:--

MY LADY,--I'm told as Mr. Ralph Newton, of Newton Priory,
is sweet upon one of your ladyship's daughters. I think
it my duty to tell your ladyship he's engaged to marry my
girl, Maryanne Neefit.

Yours most respectful,

THOMAS NEEFIT,
Breeches-Maker, Conduit Street.

"It's a lie," said Ralph.

"I'm sure it's a lie," said Lady Eardham, "only I thought it right to
show it