,
she was not afraid of him. But what would she gain? It is very
well to have a rock, as Mrs. Carbuncle had said, but a rock is not
everything. She did not know whether she cared much for living upon
a rock. Even stability may be purchased at too high a price. There
was not a grain of poetry in the whole composition of Lord Fawn, and
poetry was what her very soul craved;--poetry, together with houses,
champagne, jewels, and admiration. Her income was still her own, and
she did not quite see that the rock was so absolutely necessary to
her. Then she wrote another note to Lord Fawn, a specimen of a note,
so that she might have the opportunity of comparing the two. This
note took her much longer than the one first written.

MY LORD,--

I do not know how to acknowledge with sufficient humility
the condescension and great kindness of your lordship's
letter. But perhaps its manly generosity is more
conspicuous than either. The truth is, my lord, you want
to escape from your engagement, but are too much afraid
of the consequences to dare to do so by any act of your
own;--therefore you throw it upon me. You are quite
successful. I don't think you ever read poetry, but
perhaps you may understand the two following lines:--

"I am constrained to say, your lordship's scullion
Should sooner be my husband than yourself."

I see through you, and despise you thoroughly.

E. EUSTACE.

She was comparing the two answers together, very much in doubt as to
which should be sent, when there came a message to her by a man whom
she knew to be a policeman, though he did not announce himself as
such, and was dressed in plain clothes. Major Mackintosh sent his
compliments to her, and would wait upon her that afternoon at three
o'clock, if she would have the kindness to receive him. At the first
moment of seeing the man she felt that after all the rock was what
she wanted. Mrs. Carbuncle was right. She had had troubles and might
have more, and the rock was the thing. But then the more certainly
did she become convinced of this by the presence of the major's
messenger, the more clearly did she see the difficulty of attaining
the security which the rock offered. If this public exposure should
fall upon her, Lord Fawn's renewed offer, as she knew well, would
stand for nothing. If once it were known that she had kept the
necklace,--her own necklace,--under her pillow at Carlisle, he would
w