ch was heralded by a note from Mr. Bainrothe, full of his
characteristic, guileful sophistry and cool impertinence. It ran as
follows (I still possess this billet with others of his inditing--along
with a snake's rattle):

"MIRIAM: I am glad to hear through Mrs. Clayton that reaction has
occurred, and that you manifest repentance for your recent violence
toward one who always means you well. A little jesting on the part of
your guardian, my dear girl, should meet with a very different
reception, and handsome women must submit to compliments with a good
grace, or run the risk of being called prudes or viragos. Not that I
mean to apply either term to you by any means. Your father's daughter
could not be other than a lady, even if she tried, but I must confess
your manners have deteriorated somewhat since you went into voluntary
banishment among those outlandish people. I have heard no very good
account of this old La Vigne who died in debt, it seems, and left his
children beggars. I have some curiosity to know whether he paid your
salary. 'Straws show,' you know, etc.

"It is now October; by the end of this month I hope you will have made
up that stubborn mind of yours (truly indomitable, as I often say to
Evelyn) to leave seclusion, and enter your family once more in the only
way you can do so respectably after what has occurred--as a married
woman.

"You remember the French song which I was always fond of humming, 'Ou
est on si bien qu'au sein de sa famille?' How appropriate it seems to
your condition!

"You will be surprised to hear that your step-mother's brother has
appeared on the tapis, and that he has had the audacity to propose to
adopt Mabel, whom he claims as his niece.

"He seems a gentlemanly person enough, but may be an impostor for aught
I know. The young lady he was engaged to, Gregory tells me, perished in
the Kosciusko, which proves a relief, after all, as it is rumored he has
a wife in Europe. But such gossip can hardly interest you very vividly.
The man has gone to California, and will probably return no more.

"Did you, or did you not, meet this person at Colonel La Vigne's?
Favraud hinted something of the kind when he was here; but I can get no
satisfaction from Gregory.

"They all believe you were drowned in Georgia, and I thought it best for
the present not to undeceive Favraud, who laments your fate.

"The surprise will be all the more pleasant; and, of course, every thing
will be explai