."

"There would be a nice brother-in-law for a man," said Crosbie to
himself, as the door closed behind the retreating scion of the de
Courcy family. And then, again, he took up his pen. The letter must
be written, and therefore he threw himself upon the table, resolved
that the words should come and the paper be filled.

COURCY CASTLE, October, 186--.

DEAREST LILY,--

This is the first letter I ever wrote to you, except those
little notes when I sent you my compliments discreetly,
--and it sounds so odd. You will think that this does not
come as soon as it should; but the truth is that after all
I only got in here just before dinner yesterday. I stayed
ever so long at Barchester, and came across such a queer
character. For you must know I went to church, and
afterwards fraternised with the clergyman who did the
service; such a gentle old soul,--and, singularly enough,
he is the grandfather of Lady Dumbello, who is staying
here. I wonder what you'd think of Lady Dumbello, or how
you'd like to be shut up in the same house with her for a
week?

But with reference to my staying at Barchester, I must tell
you the truth now, though I was a gross impostor the day
that I went away. I wanted to avoid a parting on that last
morning, and therefore I started much sooner than I need
have done. I know you will be very angry with me; but open
confession is good for the soul. You frustrated all my
little plan by your early rising; and as I saw you standing
on the terrace, looking after us as we went, I acknowledged
that you had been right, and that I was wrong. When the
time came, I was very glad to have you with me at the last
moment.

My own dearest Lily, you cannot think how different this
place is from the two houses at Allington, or how much I
prefer the sort of life which belongs to the latter. I know
that I have been what the world calls worldly, but you will
have to cure me of that. I have questioned myself very much
since I left you, and I do not think that I am quite
beyond the reach of a cure. At any rate, I will put myself
trustingly into the doctor's hands. I know it is hard for a
man to change his habits; but I can with truth say this for
myself, that I was happy at Allington, enjoying every hour
of the day, and that here I am _ennuye_ by everybody and
nearly by everything. One of the girls of