“17th.  Mrs. St. Felix and Mr. Sommerville have had a meeting.  He generally walks out every afternoon in the park; and Mrs. St. Felix and he have already been introduced.  She therefore went out and met him, and after exchanging a few words she introduced the subject, stating that she did so at my request.  Mr. Sommerville, although he had not been blind, had had no idea that things had proceeded so far; and he promised Mrs. St. Felix that he would soon put an end to the persecution, or remove him from our house.  Janet has been here to-day, and I told her what had passed; she very much approved of the steps which I had taken.  I must, however, say that latterly she has not appeared to take that interest about you that she used to do, and I fear that your continual absence is injurious to your prospects.  She is very young and very giddy, Tom.  I wish she had been older, as, even when she is your wife, she will require much looking after, and a firm hand to settle her down into what a married woman in my opinion ought to be.  Mr. Sommerville has requested me to favor him with a few minutes’ conversation; and as I cannot do it in our house, for my mother never leaves me a minute to myself, I told him that I should be at Mrs. St. Felix’s this afternoon, and he could speak to me then.  He knows that I have no secrets from Mrs. St. Felix; and although it is not pleasant to resort to such means, still there can be no impropriety in my hearing what he has to tell me in her presence.

“I have seen Mr. Sommerville—­he thanked me very much for having communicated, through Mrs. St. Felix, my mother’s plot against his protege, and paid me many compliments upon my behavior, which were quite unnecessary.  He told me that he had spoken to his pupil, who had most positively denied his having any such intention, and stated that he was merely amusing himself, and he had pledged himself not to take the least notice of me for the future.  ‘I am well aware,’ said he, ’that what he has stated is not correct; he has not deceived me by his assertions; and were it not that I feel confidence in you, Miss Virginia,’ continued he, ’I would write to his father that he might be immediately removed.  I hardly need say that should anything of this kind take place, I should be most severely blamed.  It is not the first time that I have been compelled to interfere, for my pupil is of a very susceptible disposition, and has fancied himself in love with at least five young people since he has been under my charge.  In this instance,’ continued he, making me a bow, ’he has some extenuation to offer.  Will you oblige me by informing me if he adheres to his promise? or do you wish that I should speak to your mother?’

“Mrs. St. Felix replied that it would be unnecessary; indeed, that if Lord ——­ left the house I should only be subject to fresh persecution.  Mr. Sommerville, at her request, stayed to drink tea, and is certainly a very pleasant, well-informed, amiable young man.