himself of being worldly, she excused him, persuading herself that he was nearly perfect in this respect as in others.  Of course a man living in London, and having to earn his bread out in the world, must be more worldly than a country girl; but the fact of his being able to love such a girl, to choose such a one for his wife,—­was not that alone sufficient proof that the world had not enslaved him?  “My heart is on the Allington lawns,” he said; and then, as she read the words, she kissed the paper again.

In her eyes, and to her ears, and to her heart, the letter was a beautiful letter.  I believe there is no bliss greater than that which a thorough love-letter gives to a girl who knows that in receiving it she commits no fault,—­who can open it before her father and mother with nothing more than the slight blush which the consciousness of her position gives her.  And of all love-letters the first must be the sweetest!  What a value there is in every word!  How each expression is scanned and turned to the best account!  With what importance are all those little phrases invested, which too soon become mere phrases, used as a matter of course.  Crosbie had finished his letter by bidding God bless her; “And you too,” said Lily, pressing the letter to her bosom.

“Does he say anything particular?” asked Mrs Dale.

“Yes, mamma; it’s all very particular.”

“But there’s nothing for the public ear.”

“He sends his love to you and Bell.”

“We are very much obliged to him.”

“So you ought to be.  And he says that he went to church going through
Barchester, and that the clergyman was the grandfather of that Lady
Dumbello.  When he got to Courcy Castle Lady Dumbello was there.”

“What a singular coincidence!” said Mrs Dale.

“I won’t tell you a word more about his letter,” said Lily.  So she folded it up, and put it in her pocket.  But as soon as she found herself alone in her own room, she had it out again, and read it over some half-a-dozen times.

That was the occupation of her morning,—­that, and the manufacture of some very intricate piece of work which was intended for the adornment of Mr Crosbie’s person.  Her hands, however, were very full of work;—­or, rather, she intended that they should be full.  She would take with her to her new home, when she was married, all manner of household gear, the produce of her own industry and economy.  She had declared that she wanted to do something for her future husband, and she would begin that something at once.  And in this matter she did not belie her promises to herself, or allow her good intentions to evaporate unaccomplished.  She soon surrounded herself with harder tasks than those embroidered slippers with which she indulged herself immediately after his departure.  And Mrs Dale and Bell, though in their gentle way they laughed at her,—­nevertheless they worked with her, sitting sternly to their long tasks, in order that Crosbie’s house might not be empty when their darling should go to take her place there as his wife.