And so, after talking it over, we determined to invite Professor Radnor, of the University. He is a comparatively young man--about forty-five, I judge--and though far from handsome he is considered very interesting, I believe, to those who understand him. He is of good family, too--one of the Radnors of Cliff Hill, you know. He and Helen can talk biology or whatever it is he professes--I really forget what it is. Then there is Colonel Gray--I shall invite him because he was an old friend of her father, and though very grumpy and disagreeable, and apt to bore one to death with his interminable war stories, still I always invite him to the house once a year, and he is to be depended upon to come; and indeed, Alma, I am so perplexed to know whom to invite that I really cannot pick and choose. Then I think I shall have the new rector at “All Souls.” He is a young man, an Englishman, and as stupid as the proverbial Britisher; very high church, and as I have not yet invited him to dinner, I think the choice of _him_ rather diplomatic. It really has been too much of an exertion to get up a dinner-party for him alone, and indeed Eleanor cannot bear him, she says; but with her usual sweetness has consented to have him come if Helen and Margaret will take him off her hands. He and Helen will doubtless find much to say to each other about Dr. Bernardo, and the People’s Palace, and that sort of thing. I think with these three I can safely let the girls take care of the rest, and invite younger people who will be congenial to them. I say younger people, for Helen must be twenty-three or four, and she will doubtless seem much older and graver. You see I shall be prepared; I know this will be an ordeal, but I mean to do the best for her that I can. I shall have everything as handsome as possible--the girls are particularly anxious about it--as Eleanor proposes asking young Claghart, the new artist, you know, who is making such a name for himself. Helen will be here in a week. I shall send out the invitations in a day or two, so as to have no refusals--dinner engagements are already getting numerous. I shall let you know all about Helen and the dinner-party. I know you are as interested as myself in this, and that you sympathize with me. Poor Henry! to think that he should have given me a niece who has spent the best years of her life shut up in colleges, and ruining health and looks in sedentary, intellectual pursuits! The Kinglakes were here yesterday and send their kindest regards to you. Good-by! A thousand best wishes for a happy trip. _Do_ tell Mr. Bennett how much I hope he will be improved by Wiesbaden. Write soon to your devoted friend, MARIAN M. _Mrs. Olmsted Morrison to Colonel Ralph Gray._