mean to be afraid of him, and will tell him that on my word and
honour I will never marry any one except you. I don't think he
will beat me, but if he does, I'll bear it,--for your sake. He does
beat mamma sometimes, I know.

You can write to me quite safely through Didon. I think if you
would call some day and give her something, it would help, as she
is very fond of money. Do write and tell me that you love me. I
love you better than anything in the world, and I will never,--never
give you up. I suppose you can come and call,--unless papa tells the
man in the hall not to let you in. I'll find that out from Didon,
but I can't do it before sending this letter. Papa dined out
yesterday somewhere with that Lord Alfred, so I haven't seen him
since you were here. I never see him before he goes into the city
in the morning. Now I am going downstairs to breakfast with mamma
and that Miss Longestaffe. She is a stuck-up thing. Didn't you
think so at Caversham?

Good-bye. You are my own, own, own darling Felix.

And I am your own, own affectionate ladylove,

MARIE.


Sir Felix when he read this letter at his club in the afternoon of the
Monday, turned up his nose and shook his head. He thought if there
were much of that kind of thing to be done, he could not go on with
it, even though the marriage were certain, and the money secure. 'What
an infernal little ass!' he said to himself as he crumpled the letter