ds, rather later than
usual, Dick, the stable-boy, who had just returned from the post-office,
detached a letter from a packet he was handing the butler and ran after
her. As Helena was her only correspondent, she marvelled at the strange
handwriting, but opened the letter more promptly than most women do in
the circumstances. It was from Trennahan and read:

DEAR MISS YORBA,--I have virtually bought the place. That
is to say, I shall buy it as soon as the deeds are made out.
Meanwhile, I am looking for servants and hope to move down on Monday
next at latest. Mr. Smith has also consented to sell me his stud,
which, your father tells me, is exceptionally fine. So, you see, I
am really to be your neighbour, and am hoping you are friendly
enough not to be displeased. At all events, I shall give myself the
pleasure of riding over on Monday evening, and hope that you will
join me in another ride on the following morning. Meanwhile, can I
do anything for you in town? Is there anything that you would care
to read? Pray command me.

Faithfully,

J. S. TRENNAHAN.

Never was there a more commonplace or business-like note, but it seemed
a miracle of easy grace to Magdalena: it was the first note of any sort
that she had received from a man not old enough to be her father. She
invested it with all the man's magnetism, and heard it enunciated in his
cultivated voice. She imagined it delivered in the nasal tones of her
uncle, or in the thick voice of the youth that had sat on her left at
the birthday dinner,--she had forgotten his name,--and shuddered.

She recalled that her mother had received an envelope directed by the
same hand the night before; but that, doubtless, had been a mere note of
politeness. He had written this because he wished to do so!

She spent the entire morning answering the note, and discovered that it
was as easy to write a book. After tearing up some twenty epistles, she
concluded that the following, when copied on her best note-paper, and
compared with the dictionary, would do,--

DEAR MR. TRENNAHAN,--I am glad that you have bought the
Mark Smith place. There is nothing that I want. Many thanks.

Yours truly,

MAGDALENA YORBA.

XXIII

On the following Monday Don Roberto had a cold and did not go to town,
but sunned himself on the verandah, alternately sipping whiskey and
eating quinine pills. Magdalena d