arly that of myself and Sir Harry, that you should
come down here on the twentieth. Nina will be here on
her farewell visit before her return to her mother. Of
course you have heard that it is all arranged between
her and Lord George Bideford, and this will be the last
opportunity which any of us will have of seeing her once
again before her martyrdom. The world is to be told
that he is to follow her to Rome, where they are to be
married,--no doubt by the Pope himself under the dome of
St. Peter's. But my belief is that Lord George is going
to travel with her all the way. If he is the man I take
him to be he will do so, but of course it would be very
improper.

You, however, must of course come and say pretty things
to your friend; and, as you cannot go to Rome to see her
married, you must throw your old shoe after her when she
takes her departure from Stalham. I have written a line
to your aunt to press my request for this visit. This she
will no doubt show to you, and you, if you please, can
show her mine in return.

And now, my dear, I must explain to you one or two other
arrangements. A certain gentleman will _certainly_ not be
here. It was not my fault that a certain gentleman went to
Kingsbury Crescent. The certain gentleman is, as you are
aware, a great friend of ours, and was entitled to explain
himself if it so seemed good to him; but the certain
gentleman was not favoured in that enterprise by the
Stalham interest. At any rate, the certain gentleman
will not be at Stalham on this occasion. So much for the
certain gentleman.

Colonel Stubbs will be here, and, as he will be coming
down on the twentieth, would be glad to travel by the same
train, so that he may look after your ticket and your
luggage, and be your slave for the occasion. He will leave
the Paddington Station by the 4 P.M. train if that will
suit you.

We all think that he behaved beautifully in that little
affair at the Haymarket theatre. I should not mention it
only that everybody has heard of it. Almost any other man
would have struck the poor fellow again; but he is one
of the very few who always know what to do at the moment
without taking time to think of it.

Mind you come like a good girl.--Your affectionate friend,

ROSALINE ALBURY.

It was in this way that Ayala heard what had taken place between