’As well as I remember, he concluded in these words:—­“On one point, we are all agreed—­we are sorry that the parting hour is near, and we should be glad to meet again.  Why should we not meet again?  This is the autumn time of the year; we are most of us leaving home for the holidays.  What do you say (if you have no engagements that will prevent it) to joining our young married friends before the close of their tour, and renewing the social success of this delightful breakfast by another festival in honour of the honeymoon?  The bride and bridegroom are going to Germany and the Tyrol, on their way to Italy.  I propose that we allow them a month to themselves, and that we arrange to meet them afterwards in the North of Italy—­ say at Venice.”

’This proposal was received with great applause, which was changed into shouts of laughter by no less a person than my dear old nurse.  The moment Mr. Westwick pronounced the word “Venice,” she started up among the servants at the lower end of the room, and called out at the top of her voice, “Go to our hotel, ladies and gentlemen!  We get six per cent. on our money already; and if you will only crowd the place and call for the best of everything, it will be ten per cent in our pockets in no time.  Ask Master Henry!”

’Appealed to in this irresistible manner, Mr. Westwick had no choice but to explain that he was concerned as a shareholder in a new Hotel Company at Venice, and that he had invested a small sum of money for the nurse (not very considerately, as I think) in the speculation.  Hearing this, the company, by way of humouring the joke, drank a new toast:—­Success to the nurse’s hotel, and a speedy rise in the dividend!

’When the conversation returned in due time to the more serious question of the proposed meeting at Venice, difficulties began to present themselves, caused of course by invitations for the autumn which many of the guests had already accepted.  Only two members of Mrs. Carbury’s family were at liberty to keep the proposed appointment.  On our side we were more at leisure to do as we pleased.  Mr. Henry Westwick decided to go to Venice in advance of the rest, to test the accommodation of the new hotel on the opening day.  Mrs. Norbury and Mr. Francis Westwick volunteered to follow him; and, after some persuasion, Lord and Lady Montbarry consented to a species of compromise.  His lordship could not conveniently spare time enough for the journey to Venice, but he and Lady Montbarry arranged to accompany Mrs. Norbury and Mr. Francis Westwick as far on their way to Italy as Paris.  Five days since, they took their departure to meet their travelling companions in London; leaving me here in charge of the three dear children.  They begged hard, of course, to be taken with papa and mamma.  But it was thought better not to interrupt the progress of their education, and not to expose them (especially the two younger girls) to the fatigues of travelling.