osition by his own Government; but I should
think that the Marquis could do _something for him_ as he
has _so much_ at his own disposition. Every acre of the
Merioneth property is settled upon,--well,--whoever may
happen to be the next heir. There will sure to be an
income. There always is. Papa says that the young dukes
are always as well off, at any rate, as the young ravens.

But, as I said before, what does all this signify in
comparison with BLOOD. It does make your position, my
dear, _quite another thing_ from what we had expected.
You would have kept your title no doubt; but _where_
would _he_ have been?

I wonder whether you will be married now before August. I
suppose not, because it doesn't seem to be quite certain
when that _wicked papa_ of his died; but I do hope that
you won't. A day at last has been fixed for us;--the 20th
of August, when, as I told you before, Lord David is to
run away _instantly_ after the ceremony so as to travel
all night and _open something_ the next morning at
_Aberdeen_. I mention it now, because you will be _by far_
the most _remarkable_ of all my bevy of twenty. Of course
your name will have been in the papers before that as
_the_ future Italian _Duchess_. That I own will be to me
a just cause of pride. I think I have got my bevy all
fixed at last, and I do _hope_ that none of them will get
married before _my_ day. That has happened _so often_ as
to be quite _heart-breaking_. I shall cry if I find that
_you_ are to be married _first_.

Believe me to be
Your most affectionate friend and cousin,

AMALDINA.

She wrote also to her future husband on the same subject;--

DEAREST LLWDDYTHLW,--

It was very _good_ of you to come last Sunday, but I wish
you hadn't gone away just because the Graiseburys were
there. They would not have _eaten_ you, though he is a
Liberal.

I have written to Fanny Trafford to congratulate her;
because you know it is after all better than being a mere
_Post Office clerk_. That was terrible;--so bad that one
hardly knew how to mention her name in society! When
people talked about it, I really _did feel_ that I blushed
all over. One can mention her name now because people
are not _supposed_ to know that he has got nothing.
Nevertheless, it is very dreadful. _What on earth are
they to live on?_ I have told her abo