Admire the concluding stroke.  The Countess calls this letter a purely business communication.  Commercial men might hardly think so; but perhaps ladies will perceive it.  She rambles concentrically, if I may so expound her.  Full of luxurious enjoyment of her position, her mind is active, and you see her at one moment marking a plot, the next, with a light exclamation, appeasing her conscience, proud that she has one; again she calls up rival forms of faith, that she may show the Protestant its little shortcomings, and that it is slightly in debt to her (like Providence) for her constancy, notwithstanding.  The Protestant you see, does not confess, and she has to absolve herself, and must be doing it internally while she is directing outer matters.  Hence her slap at King Henry viii.  In fact, there is much more business in this letter than I dare to indicate; but as it is both impertinent and unpopular to dive for any length of time beneath the surface (especially when there are few pearls to show for it), we will discontinue our examination.

The Countess, when she had dropped the letter in the bag, returned to her chamber, and deputed Dorothy Loring, whom she met on the stairs, to run and request Rose to lend her her album to beguile the afternoon with; and Dorothy dances to Rose, saying, ’The Countess de Lispy-Lispy would be delighted to look at your album all the afternoon.’

‘Oh what a woman that is!’ says Rose.  ‘Countess de Lazy-Lazy, I think.’

The Countess, had she been listening, would have cared little for accusations on that head.  Idlesse was fashionable:  exquisite languors were a sign of breeding; and she always had an idea that she looked more interesting at dinner after reclining on a couch the whole of the afternoon.  The great Mel and his mate had given her robust health, and she was able to play the high-born invalid without damage to her constitution.  Anything amused her; Rose’s album even, and the compositions of W. H., E. H., D. F., and F. L. The initials F. L. were diminutive, and not unlike her own hand, she thought.  They were appended to a piece of facetiousness that would not have disgraced the abilities of Mr. John Raikes; but we know that very stiff young gentlemen betray monkey-minds when sweet young ladies compel them to disport.  On the whole, it was not a lazy afternoon that the Countess passed, and it was not against her wish that others should think it was.

CHAPTER XX

BREAK-NECK LEAP

The August sun was in mid-sky, when a troop of ladies and cavaliers issued from the gates of Beckley Court, and winding through the hopgardens, emerged on the cultivated slopes bordering the downs.  Foremost, on her grey cob, was Rose, having on her right her uncle Seymour, and on her left Ferdinand Laxley.  Behind came Mrs. Evremonde, flanked by Drummond and Evan.  Then followed Jenny Graine, supported by