_Rupert's_ Cousin, _Rosamond Allington_, is our Guest. She is as beautiful as ... not as an Angel, for she lacks the Look of Goodness, but very beautiful indeed. She cometh hither from _Hever Castle_, her Account of the Affairs whereof I like not. Mistress _Anne_ is not there at present; indeed, she is now always hanging about Court, and followeth somewhat too literallie the scriptural Injunction to _Solomon's_ Spouse--to forget her Father's House. The _King_ likes well enow to be compared with _Solomon_, but Mistress _Anne_ is not his Spouse yet, nor ever will be, I hope. Flattery and Frenchified Habitts have spoilt her, I trow. [Illustration: "She cometh hither from Hever Castle."] _Rosamond_ says there is not a good Chamber in the Castle; even the Ball-room, which is on the upper Floor of alle, being narrow and low. On a rainy Day, long ago, she and Mistress _Anne_ were playing at Shuttlecock therein, when _Rosamond's_ Foot tripped at some Unevennesse in the Floor, and Mistress _Anne_, with a Laugh, cried out, "Mind you goe not down into the Dungeon"--then pulled up a Trap-door in the Ball-room Floor, by an iron Ring, and made _Rosamond_ look down into an unknown Depth; all in the blacknesse of Darkness. 'Tis an awfulle Thing to have onlie a Step from a Ball-room to a Dungeon! I'm glad we live in a modern House; we have noe such fearsome Sights here. _Sept. 26._ How many, many Tears have I shed! Poor, imprudent _Will_. To think of his Escape from the _Cardinall's_ Fangs, and yet that he will probablie repeat the Offence! This Morning _Father_ and he had a long, and, I fear me, fruitless Debate in the Garden; on returning from which, _Father_ took me aside and sayd,-- "_Meg_, I have borne a long Time with thine Husband; I have reasoned and argued with him, and still given him my poor, fatherly Counsel; but I perceive none of alle this can call him Home agayn. And therefore, _Meg_, I will no longer dispute with him." ... "Oh, _Father_!" ... "Nor yet will I give him over; but I will set another Way to work, and get me to GOD and pray for him." And have not I done so alreadie? _27th._ I feare me they parted unfriendlie; I hearde _Father_ say, "Thus much I have a Right to bind thee to, that thou indoctrinate not her in thine owne Heresies. Thou shalt not imperill the Salvation of my Child." Since this there has been an irresistible Gloom on our Spiritts, a Cloud between my Husband's Soul and mine, without a Word spoken. I pray, but my Prayers seem dead. _Thursday, 28th._ Last Night, after seeking unto this Saint and that, methought, "Why not applie unto the Fountain Head? Maybe these holie Spiritts may have Limitations sett to the Power of theire Intercessions--at anie Rate, the Ears of _Mary-mother_ are open to alle." Soe I beganne, "_Eia mater, fons amoris._" ... Then methoughte, "But I am onlie asking _her_ to intercede--I'll mount a Step higher still." ...