invite Miss Norton to tea; hence Monday's tea-party, which was
exceedingly funny. Ida Seymour had gone to a school treat at
Miltonhoe, so my old ladies and I had the place to ourselves. They
were much distressed, bless them, at the extraordinary antiquity of
Jane Norton's black silk gown; Heaven only knows in what year of
Grace it was fabricated, and how she manages to keep it together.
I'm afraid I shall have some difficulty in preventing Aunt Caroline
from giving Jane a new dress,--she certainly won't rest till she has
done so. As for Gabriel, he was so remarkably dusty and threadbare
that I set him at table with his back to the light, in such a manner
that his mere silhouette was exposed to Hopkinson's scrutiny. I must
allow, however, that he behaved beautifully, and Jane was perfect;
she made an excellent impression on grandmamma, who is very anxious
I should invite her again.

"In fact," said she, "I don't see why she shouldn't come and have a
cup of tea with us every time your teacher comes; then we shall know
she has a good tea twice a week at least, poor thing!"

Why can't I see him without these subterfuges? Why can't we meet
here in my house in all simplicity, without fear of that monster,
the world, and its murderous tongue? It all seemed so good and so
simple that morning when he said to me:--

"We will be friends as friends should be; all shall be true and free
between us; we shall make exchange of our thoughts, and learn
together how to live."

Never mind; I am very fortunate.