I am indeed _delighted_ to be able to congratulate you on the wonderful and _most romantic_ story which has just been made known to us. I was never one of those who blamed you _very much_ because you had given your affections to a man _so much below_ you in rank. Nevertheless, we all could not but feel that it was a pity that he should be _a Post Office clerk!_ Now, indeed, you have reason to be proud! I have already read up the subject, and I find that the Ducas di Crinola are supposed to have _the very best blood_ in Europe. There can be no doubt that one of the family married a _Bourbon_ before they came to the French throne. I could send you all the details, only I do not doubt that you have found it out for yourself already. Another married _a second cousin of that Maximilian who married Mary of Burgundy_. One of the ladies of the family is supposed to have been the wife of the younger brother of one of the Guises, though it isn't _quite_ certain whether they were ever married. But that little blot, my dear, will hardly affect _you_ now. Taking the name altogether, I don't think there is anything higher in all Europe. Papa says that the Di Crinolas have always been doing something in Italy in the way of politics, or rebellion, or fighting. So it isn't as though they were all washed out and no longer of any account, like some of those we read of in history. Therefore I _do_ think that you must be a _very happy girl_. I do feel _so completely snuffed out_, because, after all, the title of Merioneth was only conferred in the time of _Charles the Second_. And though there _was_ a Lord Llwddythlw before that, even he was only created by _James the First_. The Powells no doubt are a very old Welsh family, and it is supposed that there was some relationship between them and the Tudors. But what is that to be compared to the _mediæval honours_ of the _great House of Di Crinola?_ Papa seems to think that he will not have _much_ fortune. I am one of those who do not think that a large income is at all to be compared to good birth in the way of giving _real position_ in the world. Of course the Duke's estates are supposed to be _enormous_, and Llwddythlw, _even as an eldest son_, is a rich man; but as far as I can see there is nothing but trouble comes from it. If he has anything to do with a provincial town in the way of _rents_ he is expected to lay the _first brick_ of every church and institute about the place. If anything has to be _opened_ he has to _open_ it; and he is never allowed to eat his dinner without having to make _two or three speeches before and afterwards_. That's what I call a _great bore_. As far as I can see you will be always able to have your duke with you, because he will have no abominable public duties to look after.