"Only think—is it not terrible?—the Landors have lost nearly everything that they have! Positively almost everything! All Mrs. Landor's money is gone, and the estate must be sold, and nothing will be left. I never understand business affairs properly, but the Company has failed in which her money was first made—at least, in which her father's money was made, which comes to the same thing. And now it is all gone in one smash. She has had difficulties the last few years—so we are told now—though nobody knew, except of course her husband. But things might have come right in time, if it had not been for this failure, which takes everybody by surprise, the Landors themselves as much as anybody. They will have nothing left, beyond Mr. Landor's stipend of £85 a year. Fancy having to live on that, after what Mrs. Landor has always been accustomed to! "Nothing could be more sad. I have cried half the time since first I heard what had happened. Mrs. Landor is very cheerful, but she doesn't in the least know what it all means. How should she? She has never wanted anything that she could not get. I cannot imagine what they are to do. It is not like young people beginning life, but at their age, it is melancholy! "Your father is a great deal better since this has happened. It seems odd, but having to think so much about the Landors has quite roused him up and made a different man of him. Dr. North said yesterday to me that really there is not much amiss with him, if only he could believe it! A change somewhere might do him good because it would mean something fresh to think about, but this trouble of the Landors seems to have had the same effect: if only it will last." In answer to the above, Euphrasia, wrote, after long cogitation:— "DEAR MOTHER—I can hardly believe what you have told me about Mr. and Mrs. Landor; it is so very dreadful! I am not writing to them now, because I hope to see them so soon. This is just a line to say that I am arranging to come home on Monday. "I did not tell you before that I had a fall down several steps, the very day that I came here, and hurt my knee. It was not worth while to make you all anxious, and nothing could be done except to keep the knee perfectly still. The doctor says it will be all right in time, if I am careful for a while, and it is a great deal better already, only I am not allowed to use it much yet. He is—the doctor, I mean—a cousin of the Johnstons, so his visits will be no expense to us, as he has only come as a friend. I did not know this till a day or two ago, and I have been rather afraid about the bill. "Part of the time here was rather dull because I have been able to go nowhere. I shall be so glad to see you all again. Mrs. Johnston is kind, but I have found Letitia much less of a friend than I expected. I would not have stayed so long only I could not travel till Mr. Wells gave me leave.