no means sorry to receive it.

COURCY CASTLE, September 186--.

MY DEAR MR CROSBIE,

We have heard of you from the Gazebees, who have come
down to us, and who tell us that you are rusticating at a
charming little village, in which, among other attractions,
there are wood nymphs and water nymphs, to whom much
of your time is devoted. As this is just the thing for
your taste, I would not for worlds disturb you; but if
you should ever tear yourself away from the groves and
fountains of Allington, we shall be delighted to welcome
you here, though you will find us very unromantic after
your late Elysium.

Lady Dumbello is coming to us, who I know is a favourite of
yours. Or is it the other way, and are you a favourite of
hers? I did ask Lady Hartletop, but she cannot get away
from the poor marquis, who is, you know, so very infirm.
The duke isn't at Gatherum at present, but, of course, I
don't mean that that has anything to do with dear Lady
Hartletop coming to us. I believe we shall have the house
full, and shall not want for nymphs either, though I fear
they will not be of the wood and water kind. Margaretta and
Alexandrina particularly want you to come, as they say you
are so clever at making a houseful of people go off well.
If you can give us a week before you go back to manage the
affairs of the nation, pray do.

Yours very sincerely,

ROSINA DE COURCY.

The Countess de Courcy was a very old friend of Mr Crosbie's; that is
to say, as old friends go in the world in which he had been living.
He had known her for the last six or seven years, and had been in
the habit of going to all her London balls, and dancing with her
daughters everywhere, in a most good-natured and affable way. He had
been intimate, from old family relations, with Mr Mortimer Gazebee,
who, though only an attorney of the more distinguished kind, had
married the countess's eldest daughter, and now sat in Parliament
for the city of Barchester, near to which Courcy Castle was situated.
And, to tell the truth honestly at once, Mr Crosbie had been on terms
of great friendship with Lady de Courcy's daughters, the Ladies
Margaretta and Alexandrina--perhaps especially so with the latter,
though I would not have my readers suppose by my saying so that
anything more tender than friendship had ever existed between them.

Crosbie said nothing about the letter on that