l! There are a great many Americans
here. The fashion of short steeves seems quite to be coming in again!
I shall have to get mine altered as soon as I come home. Some of our
party went up the Rigi to-day. The view from the top was beautiful; but
the place is spoiled by the crowds of people who go up. I so much
prefer the quieter excursions.

"I must go to bed now, dearest Milly. It will be lovely to see you
soon. When one is away from home, one feels more than ever how nice it
would be to have one's friends always about one. (What a lot of
`ones'!)

"Ever your very loving friend,--

"Daisy.

"P.S.--We met the Thompsons at Como. Did you know Edith was to be
married this autumn, quite quietly, in the country? The Walkleys are
here, and one or two other people we know. Arthur has struck up with a
Cambridge fellow, named Railsford, whom we met on the Saint Gothard, and
who took _so_ much trouble about the luggage. It is so nice for Arthur
to have a companion. Dearest Milly, he (M.R.) was one of the party who
went up the Rigi to-day; he speaks German so well, and is so attentive
to mamma. Don't be too horribly curious, darling; I'll tell you
_everything_ when I get home. (He is _so_ good and handsome!)"

Number 4.--Francis Herapath, Esquire, Merchant, to James Blake, Esquire,
Solicitor.

"_Private and Confidential_.

"Dear Blake,--Being detained here owing to a miscarriage of some of our
luggage, I write this instead of waiting till I see you, as it may be
another week before we are home.

"During our travels my daughter has become engaged to a Mr Mark
Railsford, apparently a very desirable and respectable young man. You
will wonder why I trouble you about such a very domestic detail. The
young gentleman was very frank and straightforward in making his
proposal, and volunteered that if I desired to make any inquiries, he
was quite sure that you, his late father's solicitor, would answer any
questions. I have no doubt, from the readiness with which he invited
the inquiry and his satisfaction in hearing that you and I were old
friends, that you will have nothing to say which will alter my
favourable impression. Still, as my child's happiness is at stake, I
have no right to omit any opportunity of satisfying myself. Anything
you may have to say I shall value and treat as confidential.

"I understand Mr R., under his father's will, has a small property; but
of course it will be necessary for him