ed to trouble you with this last incident, though it
may seem of no importance in your eyes, in the hope that your superior
ability may be able to explain it. My own poor faculties, I confess, are
quite unable to penetrate Mr. Pedgift's meaning. All I know is that he
has no right to accuse me of any such impertinent feeling as curiosity
in relation to a lady whom I ardently esteem and admire. I dare not put
it in warmer words.

"I have only to add that I am in a position to be of continued service
to you here if you wish it. Mr. Armadale has just been into the office,
and has told me briefly that, in Mr. Midwinter's continued absence, I am
still to act as steward's deputy till further notice.

"Believe me, dear madam, anxiously and devotedly yours, FELIX BASHWOOD."

4. _From Allan Armadale to the Reverend Decimus Brock_.

Thorpe Ambrose, Tuesday.

"MY DEAR MR. BROCK--I am in sad trouble. Midwinter has quarreled with
me and left me; and my lawyer has quarreled with me and left me; and
(except dear little Miss Milroy, who has forgiven me) all the neighbors
have turned their backs on me. There is a good deal about 'me' in this,
but I can't help it. I am very miserable alone in my own house. Do pray
come and see me! You are the only old friend I have left, and I do long
so to tell you about it.

"N. B.--On my word of honor as a gentleman, I am not to blame. Yours
affectionately,

"ALLAN ARMADALE.

"P. S.--I would come to you (for this place is grown quite hateful to
me), but I have a reason for not going too far away from Miss Milroy
just at present."

5. _From Robert Stapleton to Allan Armadale, Esq._

"Bascombe Rectory, Thursday Morning.

"RESPECTED SIR--I see a letter in your writing, on the table along with
the others, which I am sorry to say my master is not well enough to
open. He is down with a sort of low fever. The doctor says it has been
brought on with worry and anxiety which master was not strong enough to
bear. This seems likely; for I was with him when he went to London last
month, and what with his own business, and the business of looking after
that person who afterward gave us the slip, he was worried and anxious
all the time; and for the matter of that, so was I.

"My master was talking of you a day or two since. He seemed unwilling
that you should know of his illness, unless he got worse. But I think
you ought to know of it. At the same time he is not worse; perhaps
a trifle better. The doc