I wish I had never met him—­or that he had not been rude at Nazeby—­it is so difficult to behave with dignity when a person has a nice voice and makes you laugh, although you are awfully cross with him inside.  Then I have to be thinking all the time about my dimple not to let it come out, as that is what caused his rudeness, and with one thing and another it upsets me so, that my cheeks are always burning when I am with him, and I feel as if I should like to box his ears or cry; and I hope after to-morrow I shall never see him again.  He rowed so slowly when we did get into the boat that I offered to do it, but he would not let me.  I would not talk to him at all.  When we got to the landing I jumped out so that he should not help me, and gave my head a crack against the pole in the boat house.  I fancied I heard him saying, “Darling! have you hurt yourself?  What a brute I am to tease you!” but I did not wait for any more.  I ran to the house as fast as I could, and as he had to tie up the boat, I was just getting into the hall when he caught me up.  My head hurt dreadfully, and I was so tired and cross, and everything, that the tears would come into my eyes.  I did not want him to see, but I am afraid he did, so before he could speak I rushed on again and got safely to my room.  I am sure it is very rude to call people “darling” without their leave, isn’t it, Mamma?

I went in to dinner with a sporting curate who lives near, and he kept making his bread into crumbs on the cloth and then sweeping them up with his knife into a heap, between every course.  What strange habits people have!  After dinner Mrs. Westaway took Lord Valmond and sat in the window seat, and when he did get away, and was coming over to me, I said my head was aching from the knock I gave it, and came up to bed, and as he has to catch an early train in the morning I shan’t come down until he has gone.  I don’t want to see him any more, it is too fatiguing quarrelling all the time, and one could not forgive him and be friends I suppose after such behaviour as his at Nazeby—­could one, Mamma?

Now good-night; I am sleepy.—­Your affectionate daughter, Elizabeth.

P.S.—­I should hate to be a marquis always having to take the hostess in to dinner no matter how old and ugly she is, just because a duke isn’t present.

CHATEAU DE CROIXMARE

Chateau De Croixmare,

16th August.

[Sidenote:  A Formidable Godmother]

Dearest Mamma,—­What a crossing we had, perfectly disgusting!  The sky was without a cloud, but such a wind that every one was sick, so one could not enjoy oneself.  Agnes became rapidly French too directly we landed at Dieppe, and the carriage was full of stuffy people, who would not have a scrap of window open; however, Jean was waiting for us at Paris.  We snatched some food at the restaurant, and then caught the train to Vinant.  Jean is