be altogether unfounded, and mamma says that the truth
will be sure to show itself at last. But that
conviction does not cure the evil, and I can well
understand that your father should suffer grievously;
and I pity your mother quite as much as I do him.

'As for Major Grantly, if he be such a man as I
took him to be from the little I saw of him, all this
would make no difference to him. I am sure that it
ought to make none. Whether it should not make a
difference in you is another question. I think it
should; and I think your answer to him should be that
you could not even consider any such proposition while
your father was in so great trouble. I am so much
older than you, and seem to have so much experience,
that I do not scruple, as you will see, to come down
upon you with all the weight of my wisdom.

'About that other subject I had rather say
nothing. I have known your cousin all my life almost;
and I regard no one more kindly than I do him. When I
think of my friends, he is always the one of the
dearest. But when one thinks of going beyond
friendship, even if one tries to do so, there are so
many barriers!

'Your affectionate friend,
'LILY DALE

'Mamma bids me say that she would be delighted