, anyhow."

Lord Surbiton was the elder brother of Mr. Cranley, and bore the second
title of the family.

"I don't suppose there is another woman in London," he thought to
himself, "that has not heard all about the row at the Cockpit, and that
would write to me."

Then he tore the chromatic splendors of the device on the envelope, and
read the following epistle:

"Early English Bunhouse,

"Chelsea, Friday. "My dear Mr. Cranley,

"Where are you hiding, or yachting, you wandering man? I can
hear nothing of you from anyone--nothing _good_, and you
know I never believe anything _else_. Do come and see me, at
the old Bunhouse here, and tell me about _yourself_"

--("She _has_ heard," he muttered)

--"and help me in a little difficulty. Our housekeeper (you
know we are strictly _blue ribbon--a cordon bleu_, I call
her) has become engaged to a _plumber_, and she is leaving
us. _Can_ you recommend me another? I know how interested
you are (in spite of your wicked jokes) in our little
enterprise. And we also want a girl, to be under the
housekeeper, and keep the accounts. Surely you will come to
see me, whether you can advise me or not.

"Yours very truly,

"Mary St. John Deloraine"

"Idiot!" murmured Mr. Cranley, as he finished reading this document; and
then he added, "By Jove! it's lucky, too. I'll put these two infernal
women off on _her_, and Alice will soon do for the girl, if she once
gets at the drink. She's dangerous, by Jove, when she has been drinking.
Then the Law will do for Alice, and all will be plain sailing in smooth
waters."

CHAPTER IX.--Mrs. St. John Deloraine

Mrs. St. John Deloraine, whose letter to Mr. Cranley we have been
privileged to read, was no ordinary widow. As parts of her character and
aspects of her conduct were not devoid of the kind of absurdity which is
caused by virtues out of place, let it be said that a better, or kinder,
or gentler, or merrier soul than that of Mrs. St. John Deloraine has
seldom inhabited a very pleasing and pretty tenement of clay, and a
house in Cheyne Walk.

The maiden name of this lady was by no means so euphonious as that which
she had attained by marriage. Miss Widdicombe, of Chipping Carby, in the
county of Somerset, was a very lively, good-hearted and agreeable young
woman; but she was by no means favorably looked on by the ladies of the
County Families. Now, i