About the sight itself, my dear LOUI, you had better ask somebody who understood it--your husband, perhaps, for he was in the _Bulldog_, which behaved dreadfully ill, breaking the line, or some fearful seawater crime. First, when the QUEEN came in her yellow yacht, the guns were fired, and then there was a long pause, while she visited the _Duke of Wellington_, a monster of a ship with, I think they said, eleven hundred and thirty-one guns, or tons, or something; but you must not take figures from me. Then we all went away in a sea-procession, which was very pretty, the great ships in long lines in the middle, hundreds of steamboats and thousands of yachts following in a miscellaneous crowd, the sun shining very brightly, and the sea as green as grass. LADY DE GULES, like a goose, fancied herself sea-sick, which I believe she would do if a glass of salt-water were set upon her dressing-table; but we would not pity her, and she thought better of it. While we were at lunch--at which the officers behaved with great devotion, and a disinterestedness remarkably unlike something you and I have seen--it seems that the fleet was cannonading an enemy, but I looked out of window and could see nothing but smoke, so we stayed where we were. [Illustration] I send you a sketch of it from memory. _Entre nous_, I was not quite unprofitably engaged. I do not know whether it will come to anything, but just ask AUGUSTUS, _from yourself_, whether the Shropshire branch of the LARTONBURY family is the right one, and if he knows HENRY LARTONBURY. Swanby House, or Hall, or something, is, I think, the family place, but I have some idea that _my_ LARTONBURYS don't live there. Until I know this, of course, I can say nothing, but it is a _strong case_, and he can wait with great safety. Be sure you ask AUGUSTUS, and write to me directly to LADY DE GULES'S. "We came to town by a special train with lots of Members of Parliament. I could not see AUGUSTUS, my dear, but the others did not look so unhappy at being without their wives as you pathetically tell me he looked on leaving you. O you silly LOUISA! "I hope I have given you a full account of the day's proceedings, but the newspapers will tell you the rest--one of the writers was in the carriage with us--I had no idea they were such nice clean people, and he knew more than all the Members put together--there, don't look angry. "Ever your affectionate, "LAURA." "_Gules House, Saturday._" "P.S.--Be particular about the _Shropshire_ branch, because there are some Hereford LARTONBURYS who won't do at all, and who ought to be made to change their name. Light hair, dark eyes, and a very affected manner, but not a bad style." * * * * * THE FASHIONABLE EPIDEMIC.