trouble about things which need not be troublesome." Then Sir Magnus
left his wife to ring for her chambermaid and go on with her painting,
while he himself undertook the unwonted task of writing an affectionate
letter to his sister-in-law. It should be here explained that Sir Magnus
had no children of his own, and that Miss Abbott was the lady who was
bound to smile and say pretty things on all occasions to Lady Mountjoy
for the moderate remuneration of two hundred a year and her maintenance.

The letter which Sir Magnus wrote was as follows:


MY DEAR SARAH,--Lady Mountjoy bids me say that we shall
be delighted to receive you and my niece at the British
Ministry on the 1st of October, and hope that you will
stay with us till the end of the month.--Believe me, most
affectionately yours, MAGNUS MOUNTJOY.


"I have a most kind letter from Sir Magnus," said Mrs. Mountjoy to her
daughter.

"What does he say?"

"That he will be delighted to receive us on the 1st of October. I did
say that we should be ready to start in about a week's time, because I
know that he gets home from his autumn holiday by the middle of
September. But I have no doubt he has his house full till the time he
has named."

"Do you know her, mamma?" asked Florence.