ise of her look. I wonder if Captain James
noticed it.

I hardly dared ask my lady, after the interview had taken place, what she
thought of the bride elect; but I hinted my curiosity, and she told me,
that if the young person had applied to Mrs. Medlicott, for the situation
of cook, and Mrs. Medlicott had engaged her, she thought that it would
have been a very suitable arrangement. I understood from this how little
she thought a marriage with Captain James, R.N., suitable.

About a year after I left Hanbury, I received a letter from Miss Galindo;
I think I can find it.--Yes, this is it.

'Hanbury, May 4, 1811.

DEAR MARGARET,

'You ask for news of us all. Don't you know there is no news in
Hanbury? Did you ever hear of an event here? Now, if you have
answered "Yes," in your own mind to these questions, you have fallen
into my trap, and never were more mistaken in your life. Hanbury is
full of news; and we have more events on our hands than we know what
to do with. I will take them in the order of the newspapers--births,
deaths, and marriages. In the matter of births, Jenny Lucas has had
twins not a week ago. Sadly too much of a good thing, you'll say.
Very true: but then they died; so their birth did not much signify. My
cat has kittened, too; she has had three kittens, which again you may
observe is too much of a good thing; and so it would be, if it were
not for the next item of intelligence I shall lay before you. Captain
and Mrs. James have taken the old house next Pearson's; and the house
is overrun with mice, which is just as fortunate for me as the King of
Egypt's rat-ridden kingdom was to Dick Whittington. For my cat's
kittening decided me to go and call on the bride, in hopes she wanted
a cat; which she did like a sensible woman, as I do believe she is, in
spite of Baptism, Bakers, Bread, and Birmingham, and something worse
than all, which you shall hear about, if you'll only be patient. As I
had got my best bonnet on, the one I bought when poor Lord Ludlow was
last at Hanbury in '99--I thought it a great condescension in myself
(always remembering the date of the Galindo baronetcy) to go and call
on the bride; though I don't think so much of myself in my every-day
clothes, as you know. But who should I find there but my Lady Ludlow!
She looks as frail and delicate as ever, but is, I think, in better
heart ev