And now we will go back to Allington.  The same morning that brought to John Eames the two letters which were given in the last chapter but one, brought to the Great House, among others, the following epistle for Adolphus Crosbie.  It was from a countess, and was written on pink paper, beautifully creamlaid and scented, ornamented with a coronet and certain singularly-entwined initials.  Altogether, the letter was very fashionable and attractive, and Adolphus Crosbie was by no means sorry to receive it.

   Courcy castle, September 186—.

   My dear Mr Crosbie,

We have heard of you from the Gazebees, who have come down to us, and who tell us that you are rusticating at a charming little village, in which, among other attractions, there are wood nymphs and water nymphs, to whom much of your time is devoted.  As this is just the thing for your taste, I would not for worlds disturb you; but if you should ever tear yourself away from the groves and fountains of Allington, we shall be delighted to welcome you here, though you will find us very unromantic after your late Elysium.

Lady Dumbello is coming to us, who I know is a favourite of yours.  Or is it the other way, and are you a favourite of hers?  I did ask Lady Hartletop, but she cannot get away from the poor marquis, who is, you know, so very infirm.  The duke isn’t at Gatherum at present, but, of course, I don’t mean that that has anything to do with dear Lady Hartletop coming to us.  I believe we shall have the house full, and shall not want for nymphs either, though I fear they will not be of the wood and water kind.  Margaretta and Alexandrina particularly want you to come, as they say you are so clever at making a houseful of people go off well.  If you can give us a week before you go back to manage the affairs of the nation, pray do.

   Yours very sincerely,

   Rosina de Courcy.

The Countess de Courcy was a very old friend of Mr Crosbie’s; that is to say, as old friends go in the world in which he had been living.  He had known her for the last six or seven years, and had been in the habit of going to all her London balls, and dancing with her daughters everywhere, in a most good-natured and affable way.  He had been intimate, from old family relations, with Mr Mortimer Gazebee, who, though only an attorney of the more distinguished kind, had married the countess’s eldest daughter, and now sat in Parliament for the city of Barchester, near to which Courcy Castle was situated.  And, to tell the truth honestly at once, Mr Crosbie had been on terms of great friendship with Lady de Courcy’s daughters, the Ladies Margaretta and Alexandrina—­perhaps especially so with the latter, though I would not have my readers suppose by my saying so that anything more tender than friendship had ever existed between them.