’For visitors, we have had Captain Baskelett for two minutes, and Lord Palmet, who stayed longer, and seems to intend to come daily.  He attempts French with Madame de R., and amuses her a little:  a silver foot and a ball of worsted.  Mr. and Mrs. Grancey Lespel have called, and Lord and Lady Croyston.  Colonel Halkett, Miss Halkett, and Mr. Tuckham come frequently.  Captain Beauchamp spoke to her yesterday of her marriage.  ’Madame de R. leaves us to-morrow.  Her brother is a delightful, gay-tempered, very handsome boyish Frenchman—­not her equal, to my mind, for I do not think Frenchmen comparable to the women of France; but she is exceedingly grave, with hardly a smile, and his high spirits excite Nevil’s, so it is pleasant to see them together.’

The letter was handed to Lady Romfrey.  She read through it thoughtfully till she came to the name of Nevil, when she frowned.  On the morrow she pronounced it a disingenuous letter.  Renee had sent her these lines: 

’I should come to you if my time were not restricted; my brother’s leave of absence is short.  I have done here what lay in my power, to show you I have learnt something in the school of self-immolation.  I have seen Mlle. Halkett.  She is a beautiful young woman, deficient only in words, doubtless.  My labour, except that it may satisfy you, was the vainest of tasks.  She marries a ruddy monsieur of a name that I forget, and of the bearing of a member of the gardes du corps, without the stature.  Enfin, madame, I have done my duty, and do not regret it, since I may hope that it will win for me some approbation and a portion of the esteem of a lady to whom I am indebted for that which is now the best of life to me:  and I do not undervalue it in saying I would gladly have it stamped on brass and deposited beside my father’s.  I have my faith.  I would it were Nevil’s too—­and yours, should you be in need of it.

’He will marry Mlle. Denham.  If I may foretell events, she will steady him.  She is a young person who will not feel astray in society of his rank; she possesses the natural grace we do not expect to see out of our country—­from sheer ignorance of what is beyond it.  For the moment she affects to consider herself unworthy; and it is excuseable that she should be slightly alarmed at her prospect.  But Nevil must have a wife.  I presume to think that he could not have chosen better.  Above all, make him leave England for the Winter.  Adieu, dear countess.  Nevil promises me a visit after his marriage.  I shall not set foot on England again:  but you, should you ever come to our land of France, will find my heart open to you at the gates of undying grateful recollection.  I am not skilled in writing.  You have looked into me once; look now; I am the same.  Only I have succeeded in bringing myself to a greater likeness to the dead, as it becomes a creature to be who is coupled with one of their body.  Meanwhile I shall have news of you.  I trust that soon I may be warranted in forwarding congratulations to Lord Romfrey.’