Molly.

FROM JACK WINSTON TO LORD LANE

Grand Hotel, Toulon,
_December 19_.

My good Montie,

It is getting on towards eleven o'clock at night, and as Payne has
treated us to a smashup and I have walked some miles carrying I don't
know how many pounds of luggage, you might think that I would be more
inclined for bed than letter-writing. But, on the contrary, I have no
desire for sleep. A change has come o'er my spirit. I am happy. I have
dined alone with my Goddess. I almost took your advice and the
opportunity to make a clean breast of things, but not quite. Presently I
will tell you why, and ask if you don't think I was right in the
circumstances.

The said circumstances I owe indirectly to Payne--also a lump on the
back of my head; but that is a detail. I am in too blissful a frame of
mind to-night to dwell on it or any other detail belonging to the
accident, though maybe I'll give you the history of the affair in a
future letter. Suffice it to say, before getting on to pleasanter
things, that the car reposes in a lonesome meadow below a steep
embankment about a dozen miles away, where it is perfectly safe till I
can get back to its succour early to-morrow; Aunt Mary and Jimmy
Sherlock are enjoying each other's society at a country inn rather
nearer; Miss Randolph and I are here. She came on because she had to
have a sprained wrist treated by a competent doctor; I came to buy new
parts for the car; naturally we joined forces. The others were to have a
carriage sent back to them from Toulon, but Aunt Mary funked the long
drive on account of a furious storm. Miss Randolph could get no private
sitting-room, and as, with a disabled wrist, she didn't care to face the
ordeal of a _salle a manger_ alone, she suggested that I should attend
her at dinner. Not as a servant, mind, but "for this occasion only" as
an equal.

For an instant I was doubtful, for her sake; but to have put a thought
of impropriety into her sweet mind would have been coarse. Besides, the
request from mistress to man was equivalent to a royal command. I hope,
however, that had there been any fear of unfortunate consequences to
her, I should have been strong enough to resist temptation.

I told her that, if she thought it best to condescend to my
companionship, I should be highly