"Ah, mother, if I was a young lady of the higher classes, I know whose wife I should like to be!" Not particularly interested in sentimental aspirations, the landlady asked to see Mr.Mountjoy's letter.

The messenger who delivered it was to wait for an answer.

It was addressed to: "Miss Henley, care of Clarence Vimpany, Esquire, Honeybuzzard." Urged by an excited imagination, the daughter longed to see Miss Henley.

The mother was at a loss to understand why Mr.Mountjoy should have troubled himself to write the letter at all.

"If he knows the young lady who is staying at the doctor's house," she said, "why doesn't he call on Miss Henley ?" She handed the letter back to her daughter.