The letter was not quite what Rachel had expected, but, nevertheless, she thought it very nice. She had never received a love-letter before, and probably had never read one,--even in print; so that she was in possession of no strong preconceived notions as to the nature or requisite contents of such a document. She was a little shocked when Luke called his mother a goose;--she was a little startled when he said that people were "liars," having an idea that the word was one not to be lightly used;--she was amused by the allusion to the baronet's grandmother, feeling, however, that the manner and language of his letter was less pretty and love-laden than she had expected;--and she was frightened when he so confidently called upon her to write to him twice a week. But, nevertheless, the letter was a genial one, joyous, and, upon the whole, comforting. She read it very slowly, going back over much of it twice and thrice, so that her mother became impatient before the perusal was finished. "It seems to be very long," said Mrs. Ray. "Yes, mamma, it is long. It's nearly four sides." "What can he have to say so much?" "There's a good deal of it is about his own private affairs." "I suppose, then, I mustn't see it." "Oh yes, mamma!" And Rachel handed her the letter. "I shouldn't think of having a letter from him and not showing it to you;--not as things are now." Then Mrs. Ray took the letter and spent quite as much time in reading it as Rachel had done. "He writes as though he meant to have everything quite his own way," said Mrs. Ray. "That's what he does mean. I think he will do that always. He's what people call imperious; but that isn't bad in a man, is it?"