t come again;
but I will write thee word from my office to-morrow." Upon this Lord
Hampstead would have promised to call himself at King's Court on the
next day, had not the Quaker declared himself in favour of writing
rather than of speaking. The post, he said, was very punctual; and on
the next evening his lordship would certainly receive tidings as to
Marion.

"Of course I cannot say what we can do about Gorse Hall till I hear
from Mr. Fay," said Hampstead to his sister when he reached home.
"Everything must depend on Marion Fay." That his sister should have
packed all her things in vain seemed to him to be nothing while
Marion's health was in question; but when the Quaker's letter arrived
the matter was at once settled. They would start for Gorse Hall on
the following day, the Quaker's letter having been as follows;--

MY LORD,--

I trust I may be justified in telling thee that there is
not much to ail my girl. She was up to-day, and about
the house before I left her, and assured me with many
protestations that I need not take any special steps for
her comfort or recovery. Nor indeed could I see in her
face anything which could cause me to do so. Of course I
mentioned thy name to her, and it was natural that the
colour should come and go over her cheeks as I did so. I
think she partly told me what had passed between you two,
but only in part. As to the future, when I spoke of it,
she told me that there was no need of any arrangement, as
everything had been said that needed speech. But I guess
that such is not thy reading of the matter; and that after
what has passed between thee and me I am bound to offer to
thee an opportunity of seeing her again shouldst thou wish
to do so. But this must not be at once. It will certainly
be better for her and, may be, for thee also that she
should rest awhile before she be again asked to see thee.
I would suggest, therefore, that thou shouldst leave
her to her own thoughts for some weeks to come. If thou
will'st write to me and name a day some time early in
March I will endeavour to bring her round so far as to see
thee when thou comest.

I am, my lord,
Thy very faithful friend,

ZACHARY FAY.

It cannot be said that Lord Hampstead was by any means satisfied with
the arrangement which had been made for him, but he was forced to
acknowledge to himself that he could not do better than acc