These appear to be his only defects. I can understand that they cause you some anxiety, but with care I trust in time they may wear off. Like BUFFON the naturalist (_is_ it BUFFON?) or somebody, I have, from stray bones, so to speak, to reconstruct, in imagination, the entire animal. My impression of him is somewhat vague, but on the whole satisfactory. It is charming of him to go home and write to you the instant he has left you--I think it only right, of course--when people meet every day they have a great deal more to write about than if they saw each other occasionally. One thing in your letter puzzled me. He has been called to the Bar, but he did not go, because he had once been thinking of being a clergyman and he had conscientious scruples about the law. What _can_ you mean? I am quite at a loss, but since you say it was very noble of him and you love him all the more, I suppose it is all right. You say his father has a maddening way of taking you aside and asking you in general to "use your influence" with ARTHUR. He never says what about, but gives forth irritating platitudes about "a woman's tact" and "gentle feminine persuasion." You are quite right to agree at once and not ask for an explanation, as it would keep you away from ARTHUR longer, and it doesn't matter in the least. It is very curious about the day ARTHUR went shooting and told you he had shot two brace of grouse, and you found out afterwards it was not true, he had shot thirteen. You ask me "how you should act," and say you have as yet "taken no steps in the matter." Of course, if you find him out in a little fib and let him know it, he will think you have a horribly suspicious nature and be rather disgusted at your want of trustfulness; on the other hand, if you don't show it, he will think you extraordinarily stupid and easily duped. I think if I were you, I should whenever the subject is alluded to, pin on an enigmatic smile and be silent. This will be quite sufficient punishment for the boastfulness of his modesty. Write soon again. I am glad ARTHUR is so good to his sister's husband. A good brother-in-law always makes an excellent _fiancé_. With congratulations and every good wish, Your affectionate friend, MARJORIE. * * * * * [Illustration: Q. E. D. "HOW _VAIN_ YOU ARE, EFFIE! LOOKING AT YOURSELF IN THE GLASS!" "_VAIN_, AUNT EMMA? ME _VAIN_! WHY I DON'T THINK MYSELF _HALF_ AS GOOD-LOOKING AS I REALLY _AM_!"] * * * * * NOT THE CHEESE! (_By an Old-fashioned Fellow_) ["I would buy 'Cheshire,' if I could get it; but I cannot. For years I have been doing business in most parts of the country ... and I have hardly ever seen a Cheshire cheese."--_"Fromage," in the correspondence on "English Cheese" in the "Daily News."_]