The answer came two days later than return of post, and ran thus: 

“Melbourne House, Sark,
“Sunday. 
“My dear Ned

“How very provoking about the servants!  I do not mind Matilda so much; but I do think it hard that we could not depend on Armande, considering all the kindness we have shewn her.  I can scarcely believe that she would have acted so badly unless she were led away by Matilda, whom I will pack off the moment I return.  As to Armande, I will give her another chance; but she shall have a sharp talking to.  I am quite sure that a great deal more mischief has been done than you noticed.  If the carpet was danced on for three nights by men in heavy boots, it must be in ribbons.  It is really too bad.  I do not want any money.  Indeed the twenty pounds you sent me last was quite unnecessary, as I have nearly sixteen left.  What a rogue Madame is to try and make you pay for my lace!  I am sorry you paid the bill.  She had no business to call for her money:  she is never paid so soon by anybody.  We have had great fun down here.  It has been one continual garden party all through; and the weather is still lovely.  Mr. McQuinch is very colonial:  but I think his ways make the house pleasanter than if he were still English.  Carbury is quite stupid in comparison to this place.  I have danced more than I ever did in my life before; and now we are so tired of frivolity that if any one ventures to strum a waltz or propose a game, we all protest.  We tried to get up some choral music; but it was a failure.  On Friday, George, who is looked on as a great man here, was asked to give us a Shakespeare reading.  He was only too glad to be asked; for he had heard Simonton, the actor, read at a bazaar in Scotland, and was full of Richard the Third in consequence.  He was not very bad; but his imitation of Simonton was so obvious and so queerly mixed with his own churchy style that he seemed rather monotonous and affected.  At least I thought so.  I was dreadfully uncomfortable during the reading because of Marmaduke, who behaved scandalously.  There were some schoolboys present; and he not only encouraged them to misbehave themselves, but was worse than any of them himself.  At last he pretended to be overcome by the heat, and went out of the room, to my great relief; but when the passage about the early village cock came, he crew outside the door, where he had been waiting expressly to do it.  Nobody could help laughing; and the boys screamed so that Mr. McQuinch took two of them out by the collar.  I believe he was glad of the excuse to go out and laugh himself.  George was very angry, and no wonder!  He will hardly speak to Marmaduke, who, of course, denies all knowledge of the interruption; but George knows better.  All the Hardy McQuinches are down here.  Uncle Hardy is rather stooped from rheumatism.  Nelly is now the chief personage in the family:  Lydia and Jane are nowhere beside her.  They are good-humored, bouncing girls;