"Yes, madam. It is bad for the vassals and tenants of a noble -- even
though a newly made one, and on an estate of moderate dimensions
-- when their lord is absent, and there is none to look after them
save an intendant, whose duty it is to collect as much rent as he
is able. Such is the position of my tenants. I am a soldier, and
must perforce be absent. What I need greatly is someone who will
fill my place in this respect. I have an old friend who is captain
of the garrison, and sees to all things in the household; I have
an intendant, I believe a worthy young man, who collects my rents
and looks to the feeding and needs of the servants and garrison;
but I need someone who would interest herself actively in the
condition of my tenants, who would be a friend to them in sickness,
would give aid from my purse to those who really need it, would
send food to the starving, and aid my intendant by advising him as
to who are worthy of relief and who are suffering from their own
idleness or thriftlessness -- who will, in short, act as I would
have my wife act had I one.

"Now, madame la baronne if you will honour me by making my home
yours so long as I am away at the wars, which may last, for aught
I know, for years yet, you will be conferring a great favour upon
me. You will have your own suite of apartments, where your meals
will be served to you. You will have horses to ride. You will
relieve my intendant of the necessity of seeing that the servants
perform their duties, and give him more time to devote himself
to the business of the estate, and will in fact act as chatelaine,
save only in matters connected with the garrison in the defence
of the castle."

"Your offer is kind in the extreme, Colonel Campbell, but I could