The very next morning there came, forwarded from Wareborough to Mrs Dalrymple, a letter from Mrs Winter, in which after the usual feminine amount of irrelevant matter, she went on to say, "I have often wondered how soon you found out the incorrectness of the report about Miss Eyrecourt's engagement to Captain Chancellor. Indeed, it has been rather on my mind to set it right with you, but the very day after I last wrote I was called away to nurse my mother, and the last six weeks have been entirely spent in the sick-room," etc, etc. "And besides, as you are so nearly connected with the young lady, you are quite sure to have heard it was only, a piece of local gossip." Eugenia smiled when her friend showed her the letter. "How queerly things are twisted up together," she said, but she was happy enough now to forget all the past, save as enhancing the present. She was perfectly satisfied with Beauchamp's explanation (he did not feel called upon to make it a very ample one) of his inconsistent conduct: his misgivings as to the wisdom of marrying on his limited means, his ignorance of the real state of her feelings towards him, his anxiety to take no such step without the approval of the sister to whom he owed so much--all good reasons and founded on fact as far as they went. "I hope your sister will like me," said Eugenia, thoughtfully. "It is with her Miss Eyrecourt lives, is it not? I think I liked Miss Eyrecourt, at least I think so _now_," with a smile and a blush which made her lover congratulate himself on his reticence. Mr Dalrymple and Major Thanet both opened their eyes when they heard the news. "Well, my dear," said the former, oracularly, "I trust you will never have reason to regret your share in the affair;" but to the young people themselves he was "mean" enough to be profusely congratulatory. "Just like a man," thought poor Mrs Dalrymple. "If Henry were the least given to clairvoyance, and that sort of thing, I should really think he went off yesterday on purpose that he might be able to put the responsibility on to me." Captain Chancellor's friend did not mince the matter. He had scented one of Beauchamp's little "affaires," but the actual denouement so suddenly announced to him by his companion was rather startling. "Going to be married," he exclaimed; "and this morning you had as much idea of anything of the kind--at least in _this_ quarter," pointedly, "as--as," the gallant officer hesitated, at a loss for a sufficiently forcible expression, "as I have of marrying the man in the moon." Beauchamp laughed shortly and contemptuously. Major Thanet's perceptions were not of the quickest. "Are you sure you know what you are about, my dear fellow?" he inquired confidentially.