So he impressed Colonel Sharpe; so he impressed every one. He would be an addition to the company, they all agreed, when he and Parkington had gone to their room to dress. _The Nelson_ was arrived that morning from England, and the Governor's mail had been sent down by the pinnace. In the bag, were several communications for Miss Stirling, which he passed over with a jocular remark. Excusing herself, she retired to a quiet corner of the library to read them. While thus engaged, Captain Herford entered, and tried to engage her in talk; but she sent him away, rather petulantly, and then, hiding herself in a window embrasure, went on with her reading. Two of the letters were of casual interest--the doings of the writers on their country estates--and were not remarkable either for correct spelling or polished diction. The third and last, however, was of better stuff. It was from Lady Catherwood, written from London,--before she had received Miss Stirling's letter to her, of course--and had in it much gossip, a little scandal, and, then, just before the close, was this:-- "_There is an interesting Piece of Gossip, which I all but forgot to tell you. It seems, Lord Baltimore has tired of certain Gentlemen, who are his particular Toad-eaters, and has taken Means to get rid of them._ "_One has gone to Maryland, with letters of Introduction to the Governor, your Uncle, trusting to make his way with the Gentlemen of the Colony, and, incidentally, to make as much Money off them as they will permit--which, I Dare say, will not be Excessive, for a more Unattractive little Rogue it would be hard to find outside a jail. He is small, and fat, and bald, and is scarcely ever Sober, when he has some one to pay for the Liquor; and, naturally, he is a Vile little Beast in other ways--Comprenez vous? A thoroughly disreputable fellow, Catherwood says, and one whom Baltimore ought to be Ashamed to send his Colony; but Baltimore is not Ashamed of anything, save leading a decent life._ "_I give you this, for your own Information--not because I think there is any likelihood of your falling a Victim to Sir Edward's wiles--but to warn you, and also Colonel Sharpe, if you think well to meddle in his business. The name of this wretch is Sir Edward Parkington----_" Martha Stirling read the last line thrice, to make sure she saw aright. "Sir Edward Parkington!" she reflected--"is small, and fat, and bald, and scarcely ever sober! and a vile little beast in other ways--_Comprenez vous?_ Yes, my dear, I comprehend. And what is more, I comprehend that he is not _our_ Sir Edward. Between the leaving London and the arrival at Annapolis, there was a change of men.--But the letters of introduction are the same--how did they happen to change hands?"