at the carriage-door. Here is comfort
consulted--here are the interests of propriety consulted--here is your
own duty--duty of hospitality, sympathy, protection, to an unhappy lady
in need of all three--smoothed and made easy, from the beginning to
the end. I cordially invite you, sir, to second my efforts in the
sacred interests of the family. I seriously advise you to write, by my
hands, offering the hospitality of your house (and heart), and the
hospitality of my house (and heart), to that injured and unfortunate
lady whose cause I plead to-day."

He waved his horrid hand at me--he struck his infectious breast--he
addressed me oratorically, as if I was laid up in the House of Commons.
It was high time to take a desperate course of some sort. It was also
high time to send for Louis, and adopt the precaution of fumigating the
room.

In this trying emergency an idea occurred to me--an inestimable idea
which, so to speak, killed two intrusive birds with one stone. I
determined to get rid of the Count's tiresome eloquence, and of Lady
Glyde's tiresome troubles, by complying with this odious foreigner's
request, and writing the letter at once. There was not the least
danger of the invitation being accepted, for there was not the least
chance that Laura would consent to leave Blackwater Park while Marian
was lying there ill. How this charmingly convenient obstacle could
have escaped the officious penetration of the Count, it was impossible
to conceive--but it HAD escaped him. My dread that he might yet
discover it, if I allowed him any more time to think, stimulated me to
such an amazing degree, that I struggled into a sitting
position--seized, really seized, the writing materials by my side, and
produced the letter as rapidly as if I had been a common clerk in an
office. "Dearest Laura, Please come, whenever you like. Break the
journey by sleeping in London at your aunt's house. Grieved to hear of
dear Marian's illness. Ever affectionately yours." I handed these
lines, at arm's length, to the Count--I sank back in my chair--I said,
"Excuse me--I am entirely prostrated--I can do no more. Will you rest
and lunch downstairs? Love to all, and sympathy, and so on.
Good-morning."

He made another speech--the man was absolutely inexhaustible. I closed
my eyes--I endeavoured to hear as little as possible. In spite of my
endeavours I was obliged to hear a great deal. My sister's endless
husband congratulated himse