DEAR MR. DUNDAS.--My daughter has told me, as indeed she was bound to do, what took place this afternoon when you arrived unexpectedly at Mr. Merivale's house and found yourself alone with her. I feel of course convinced that you must be already sorry for having allowed yourself to take advantage of my girl's accidental loneliness in this way, but since I gather from her that Mr. Merivale and I returned almost at that moment, I am willing to believe that you would not have---- Lady Ellington paused a moment; she wished to put things strongly. --have continued to obtrude your presence and your speech on one to whom it was so unwelcome. I have no desire to add to the reproaches I am sure you must be heaping on yourself, and I will say no more on this subject. It is of course impossible that my daughter should sit to you again, it is equally impossible that you should write to her or attempt to see her, since you cannot possibly have anything to say except to reiterate your regrets for what you have done. These it is better to take for granted, as I am perfectly willing to do. We both of us forgive you--I can answer for her as completely as I can answer for myself--with all our hearts, and will maintain, you may rest assured, the strictest silence on the subject. I should like to have one line from you in acknowledgment of the receipt of this.--Yours very truly, MARGARET ELLINGTON. This note was written with but few erasures, for it was Lady Ellington's invariable custom to think her thoughts with some precision before she committed them to paper. Yet, late as it had grown, she copied it out afresh, put it in an envelope and directed it, and placed it on a small table by the head of her bed, so that when her tea was brought in the morning, it would be patent to the eyes of her maid. But, rather uncharacteristically, she thought over what she had said in it as she continued her undressing. Yet it was all for the good, likewise there was no word in it that was not true. And she slept with a conscience that was hard and clear and quite satisfied. For if one was doing one's best for people, nothing further could be demanded from one. And that she was doing her best she had no kind of doubt. Thus her mind was soon at leisure to observe that it was impossible to put out the electric light after getting into bed. It was necessary to light a candle first, and she made a mental note to refuse to pay for candles in case they were charged in the bill.