difficulty in getting through even the light work her mistress
required. Jane petted her now still more than Charlotte, and was
always promising her the delightful air and the luxuries of
Cheveleigh.

'See here, Charlotte,' said Marianne, one afternoon when they sat
down together to their sewing; Marianne's eyes were brighter, and her
cheeks pinker, than for many days--'See here; it is for your good I
show it you, that you mayn't build on no false expectations. It was
marked private; but I think it but fair you should see.'

'Mine was marked private too,' said Charlotte, slowly, as she fixed
her eyes on the envelope Marianne held out to her, and putting her
hand into her pocket, pulled out a similar one, directed to Miss
Arnold.

Marianne scarcely suppressed a shriek, gasped, and turned pale. Each
lady then proceeded to unfold a pink sheet of note-paper, containing
an original copy of verses, each labelled, 'On a hair of --.' Then
came a scented shining note, requesting to be informed whether the
right construction had been put on some words that had dropped from
the Miss Conways, and if it were true that the reverend and respected
Mr. F. Dynevor had come into a large fortune. In that case, Mr.
Delaford, mercenary considerations apart, would take the earliest
opportunity of resigning his present position, and entering the
family which contained his charmer.

The Merry Wives were parodied by the hysterical maids. Charlotte
might afford to laugh, but Marianne's heart was more in the matter,
and they struck up such a chorus that Jane broke upon them, declaring