Some days later I came down to breakfast, to find another letter lying on the table beside my plate. This letter also was addressed to me. Having gone through much the same process as that used with regard to my earlier correspondence, I discovered that this was from Clare's _fiance_. He thanked me for my very kind congratulations of the 13th ultimo, and went on to say that, with regard to the latter part of my letter, he was not quite sure exactly what an idyll might be, and so my interesting description of my embryo book conveyed little to him. Even so, he went on, he would have been honoured to publish any book written by any relative of his dear Clare, but that he dealt, to be candid, exclusively in legal text-books. * * * To Martha, entering at this moment, I confessed that there was at least this to be said for her and her man, that they had never concealed their connection with that odious thing, the Law. * * * Later, I read an extract from my manuscript aloud to the robin. He wore an air of abstraction and I could see that his thoughts were running on other matters more immediately concerned with his own interests. * * * To me the robin is a peculiarly human bird. * * * * * BLANCHE'S LETTERS. _REVUES_ AND THINGS. _Park Lane._ _January 31st._ DEAREST DAPHNE,--I've been putting in quite a pleasant little time down at Much Gaddington with Bosh and Wee-Wee. Theatricals were the order of the night, and the best thing we did was a _revue_ written for us by the Rector of Much Gaddington, who's a perfectly sweet man and immensely clever. It's a better _revue_ than _any_ of those at the theatres, and as that dreadful Censor had, of course, nothing to do with it the dear rector could make it as snappy as he liked. Wee-Wee and I were two "plume girls," Sal and Nan, in aprons, you know, and feathers and boots stitched with white; and our duet, "Biff along, Old Sport!" with a pavement dance between the verses, fairly brought down the house. The rector himself was _impayable_ in his songs, "Wink to me only," and "Tango--Tangoing--Tangone!" But the outstanding feature of the whole affair was certainly Dick Flummery, who introduced his new and sensational _Danse a trois Jambes_, entirely his own invention! What Dick doesn't know about dancing isn't worth knowing, and he says all the steps that _can_ be done with two legs have _been_ done, and for _anything_ really novel another leg must be added. So he's had a clockwork leg made, and he winds it up before beginning and makes its movements blend in with the steps of his _real_ legs, and the effect is simply enormous!