e is the nicest trait in her
whole character; I might almost say the only nice trait.

Mr. Copley tried in every way, short of asking me a direct question, to
find out whether I had received the marked copy of 'Persuasion' in Bath,
but I evaded the point.

Just as we were at the door of my lodging, and he was saying good-bye, I
couldn't resist the temptation of asking:

'Why, before you knew us at all, did you put "Miss Van Tyck: Reserved,"
on the window of the railway carriage at Bath?'

He was embarrassed for a moment, and then he said:

'Well, she _is_, you know, if you come to that; and, besides, I didn't
dare tell the guard the placard I really wanted to put on.'

'I shouldn't think a lack of daring your most obvious fault,' I said
cuttingly.

'Perhaps not; but there are limits to most things, and I hadn't the
pluck to paste on a pink paper with "Miss Schuyler: Engaged," on it.'

He disappeared suddenly just then, as if he wasn't equal to facing my
displeasure, and I am glad he did, for I was too embarrassed for words.

Memoranda: _In the height of roofs, nave, and choir, York is first of
English cathedrals._

_She_

Durham, _July something or other_,
At Farmer Hendry's.

We left York this morning, and arrived in Durham about eleven o'clock.
It seems there is some sort of an election going on in the town, and
there was not a single fly at the station. Mr. Copley looked about in
every direction, but neither horse nor vehicle was to be had for love or
money. At last we started to walk to the village, Mr. Copley so laden
with our hand-luggage that he resembled a pack mule.

We called first at the Three Tuns, where they still keep up the old
custom of giving a wee glass of cherry-brandy to each guest on his
arrival; but, alas! they were crowded, and we were turned from the
hospitable door. We then made a tour of the inns, but not a single room
was to be had, not for that night, nor for two days ahead, on account of
that same election.

'Hadn't we better go on to Edinburgh, Aunt Celia?' I asked, as we were
resting in the door of the Jolly Sailor.

'Edinburgh? Never!' she replied. 'Do you suppose that I would
voluntarily spend a Sunday in those bare Presbyterian churches until the
memory of these past ideal weeks has faded a little from my memory?
What! leave out Durham and spoil the set?' (In her agitation and
disappointment she spoke of the cathedrals as if they were souvenir
spoons.