We are all in doubt whether to like Sir G. Paul best or Mr. Whishaw, a lawyer, about ten years younger, but with only one leg. But the poor man, George says, was terribly smitten, and if they had staid but two days longer at Bowood, it would have come to a happy conclusion. I myself should prefer somebody rather older and steadier. Lady Ilchester wrote to Mamma, to know whether she was to let this flirtation go on, as it does at present.... George writes in good spirits, and seems delighted with his tour and with Melbury, which is the pleasantest place he knows. He says Mary is in very good spirits and makes a deuce of a noise and that she is a great favourite wherever she goes, and he believes _deservedly_ so. They neither of them seem to have any idea that they must ever come home again; but if ever they do I will let you know. Yours affectionately, EMILY EDEN. _Miss Eden to her Brother, Lord Auckland_. EDEN FARM, _Monday, January_ 1815. POOR DEAR LITTLE GEORGY, I am quite sorry it has been in such a fuss about the key, and I am afraid my last letter will not have set it’s little heart at ease, but on Sunday morning Morton[40] and I hunted for an hour, and at last found the key tied with a _yellow_ ribbon, and not a blue one, and when we had found it and made Bob ride to Greenwich[41] as fast as he could, he found Mr. Dyer laughing by himself at the fuss you and Morton were in. He said the chest was broken open at a quarter past twelve and is now broken up for life. Which of your brothers-in-law do you like best? because I cannot make up my mind quite to either, though I believe I like lame Whishaw better than the venerable Paul. Mama is really fidgetty about them; and if you write again, will you let us know whether Mary is really as pleasant as she pretends to be and whether she did not make you underline the words “_deservedly liked_” in your last letter? Because it looked very suspicious.... Talking of Fooleys, by the bye, Mr. and Miss Vansittart come here this afternoon, and I am grown duller than ever. Thank you for your verses, which we liked very much. Ever your affectionate sister, EMILY EDEN. _Lord Auckland to Miss Eden_. DROPMORE,[42] _January_ 13, 1815. MY DEAR EMILY, Here we are once more within 30 miles of home, came here late yesterday, everybody at dinner--Mary in such a fright you never saw--such a silence you never heard--room so hot you never felt--dinner so cold you never tasted--dogs so tiresome you never smelt. So we must go to Shottesbrook _bon gré, mal gré_. Hang labels round your necks when we arrive on Wednesday or Thursday with your names on them (like the decanters) for do what we will, Mary and I cannot recollect your faces. Are you the one with the long nose? Lady Riversdale’s maid has had an offer of marriage, and she has refused it, because she “had not that attachment that ought to subside between man and wife.”