'How sparing you English are of your crests and arms! I fully expected
to see the Jocelyns' over my bed; but no--four posts totally without
ornament! Sleep, indeed, must be the result of dire fatigue in such a
bed. The Jocelyn crest is a hawk in jesses. The Elburne arms are, Or,
three falcons on a field, vert. How heraldry reminds me of poor Papa!
the evenings we used to spend with him, when he stayed at home, studying
it so diligently under his directions! We never shall again! Sir Franks
Jocelyn is the third son of Lord Elburne, made a Baronet for his
patriotic support of the Ministry in a time of great trouble. The people
are sometimes grateful, my dear. Lord Elburne is the fourteenth of his
line--originally simple country squires. They talk of the Roses, but we
need not go so very far back as that. I do not quite understand why a
Lord's son should condescend to a Baronetcy. Precedence of some sort for
his lady, I suppose. I have yet to learn whether she ranks by his birth,
or his present title. If so, a young Baronetcy cannot possibly be a
gain. One thing is certain. She cares very little about it. She is
most eccentric. But remember what I have told you. It will be
serviceable when you are speaking of the family.

'The dinner-hour, six. It would no doubt be full seven in Town. I am
convinced you are half-an-hour too early. I had the post of honour to
the right of Sir Franks. Evan to the right of Lady Jocelyn. Most
fortunately he was in the best of spirits--quite brilliant. I saw the
eyes of that sweet Rose glisten. On the other side of me sat my pet
diplomatist, and I gave him one or two political secrets which astonished
him. Of course, my dear, I was wheedled out of them. His contempt for
our weak intellects is ineffable. But a woman must now and then
ingratiate herself at the expense of her sex. This is perfectly
legitimate. Tory policy at the table. The Opposition, as Andrew says,
not represented. So to show that we were human beings, we differed among