so far increased, as to justify a more fixed belief in his submission to
her charms.

As a matter of fact, she had seen Caswall that morning when she visited
Castra Regis, and they had had a long talk together, during which the
possibility of their union had been discussed. Caswall, without being
enthusiastic on the subject, had been courteous and attentive; as she had
walked back to Diana's Grove, she almost congratulated herself on her new
settlement in life. That the idea was becoming fixed in her mind, was
shown by a letter which she wrote later in the day to Adam Salton, and
sent to him by hand. It ran as follows:

"DEAR MR. SALTON,

"I wonder if you would kindly advise, and, if possible, help me in a
matter of business. I have been for some time trying to make up my
mind to sell Diana's Grove, I have put off and put off the doing of it
till now. The place is my own property, and no one has to be
consulted with regard to what I may wish to do about it. It was
bought by my late husband, Captain Adolphus Ranger March, who had
another residence, The Crest, Appleby. He acquired all rights of all
kinds, including mining and sporting. When he died, he left his whole
property to me. I shall feel leaving this place, which has become
endeared to me by many sacred memories and affections--the
recollection of many happy days of my young married life, and the more
than happy memories of the man I loved and who loved me so much. I
should be willing to sell the place for any fair price--so long, of
course, as the purchaser was one I liked and of whom I approved. May
I say that you yourself would be the ideal person. But I dare not
hope for so much. It strikes me, however, that among your Australian