xth,"
she said with composed tones, as certain as of anything she had ever
known in the course of her life.

"Well, I suppose you must know," said Mary Dale.

CHAPTER XV.

"Look at that, Elinor," said Mrs. Dennistoun, next day, when she had
read, twice over, a letter, large and emblazoned with a very big
monogram, which Elinor, well perceiving from whom it came, had furtively
watched the effect of from behind an exceeding small letter of her own.
Phil was not remarkable as a correspondent: his style was that of the
primitive mind which hopes its correspondent is well, "as this leaves
me." He had never much more to say.

"From Mariamne, mamma?"

"She takes great pains to make us certain of that fact at least," Mrs.
Dennistoun said; which indeed was very true, for the name of the writer
was sprawled in gilt letters half over the sheet. And this was how it
ran:--

"DEAR MRS. DENNISTOUN,--

"I have been thinking what a great pity it would be to bore you with me,
and my maid, and all my belongings. I am so silly that I can never be
happy without dragging a lot of things about with me--dogs, and people,
and so forth. Going to town in September is dreadful, but it is rather
_chic_ to do a thing that is quite out of the way, and one may perhaps
pick up a little fun in the evening. So if you don't mind, instead of
inflicting Fifine and Bijou and Leocadie, not to mention some people
that might be with me, upon you, and putting your house all out
of order, as these odious little dogs do when people are not used
to them--I will come down by the train, which I hope arrives quite
punctually, in time to see poor Phil turned off. I am sure you will
be so kind as to send a carriage for me to the railway. We shall be
probably a party of four, and I hear from Phil you are so hospitable and
kind that I need not hesitate to bring my friends to breakfast after
it's all over. I hope Phil will go through it like a man, and I wouldn't
for worlds deprive him of the support of his family. Love to Nell. I am,

"Yours truly,
"MARIAMNE PRESTWICH."

"The first name very big and the second very small," said Mrs.
Dennistoun, as she received the letter back.

"I am sure we are much obliged to her for not coming, mamma!"

"Perhaps--but not for this announcement of her not coming. I don't wish
to say anything against your new relations, Elinor----"

"You need not put any restraint upon yourself in consideration of my
feelings,