and it had failed. Edith was very good,
and she should still be his pet and his favourite,--but Walter
Marrable should be told that he might marry and bring his bride to
Dunripple, and that if he would sell out of his regiment, the family
lawyer should be instructed to make such arrangements for him as
would have been made had he actually been a son. There would be some
little difficulty about the colonel's rights; but the colonel had
already seized upon so much that it could not but be easy to deal
with him. On the next morning the letter was written to Walter by
Mrs. Brownlow herself.

About a week after this Mary Lowther, who was waiting at Loring with
an outward show of patience, but with much inward anxiety for further
tidings from her lover, received two letters, one from Walter, and
the other from her friend, Janet Fenwick. The reader shall see those,
and the replies which Mary made to them, and then our whole story
will have been told as far as the loves, and hopes, and cares, and
troubles of Mary Lowther are concerned.

Bullhampton, 1st September.

DEAREST MARY,

I write a line just because I said I would. Frank went
up to London last week and was away one Sunday. He found
his poor friend in town and was with him for two or three
days. He has made up his mind to let the Privets, and go
abroad, and nothing that Frank could say would move him.
I do not know whether it may not be for the best. We shall
lose such a neighbour as we never shall have again. He
was the same as a brother to both of us; and I can only
say, that loving him like a brother, I endeavoured to
do the best for him that I could. This I do know;--that
nothing on earth shall ever tempt me to set my hand at
match-making again. But it was alluring,--the idea of
bringing my two dearest friends near me together.

If you have anything to tell me of your happiness, I shall
be delighted to hear it; I will not set my heart against
this other man;--but you can hardly expect me to say that
he will be as much to me as might have been that other.
God bless you,

Your most affectionate friend,

JANET FENWICK.

I must tell you the fate of the chapel. They are already
pulling it down, and carting away the things to the other
place. They are doing it so quick, that it will all be
gone before we know where we are. I own I am glad. As
for Frank, I really believe he'd r