not scribble her a note describing your position and I'll send
one of the maids up with it; why she would write you pages of advice."

"I dont want as much as all that" cried Lawrence "I want just a few
gentle hints as to how to be loving and look as if I was in ernest."

"Well why not write to my mother?" again repeated Mulberry.

"It would look so silly" said Lawrence "and yet I'm hard up for advice
and _you_ dont seem inclined to give me any"

"No, because you'd get it much better and more original from my mother"
replied Mulberry.

"Well then I'll risk writing" said Laurence getting up as he spoke "but
mind if Lady Beaufort is annoyed you must take the consequences because
I should never have dreamt of doing this without you."

"Oh I'll answer for the consequences" said Mulberry with an amused smile
as his friend sat down and taking a sheet of crested note paper
proceeded to pen the following lines:

LADY BEAUFORT

I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in
writing you these few words--but speaking honestly
I am in the very same difficulty as your son was a
little time ago and out of which you so cleaverly
helped him. Would it be asking too much of you to
do the same for me. I am about to propose to Helen
Winston and dont quite know how to express myself.
I want it to be quite a short proposal and one
quickly got through. Do you advise me to do it out
of doors or in. I am afraid I should get so
nervous in a drawing room, but of course it is
just as you think best. Might I have an answer to
this as soon as possible please.

Believe me,
Yours faithfully
LAWRENCE E. G. LINCARROL.

"Here now if Lady Beaufort turns that to ridicule its not my fault cried
Lawrence hastily screwing his epistle into a cocked hat.

"No of course not" replied Mulberry encouragingly ringing the bell as he
spoke, "now when the butler comes I'll tell him to send it up at once
and mark my words Lawrence you'll have a reply within three minutes from
now."

"I feel an awful ass" responded Lawrence throwing the note on the table
"but now I'm going out for a bit perhaps as you say I shall find an
answer waiting for me when I come back."

"No doubt of it" said Mulberry and with t