When the servants had left the room she said to Amelia: "Quite time you were off with that basket for Mary Higginson." And Amelia took the hint meekly and got up from her seat, leaving a pear unfinished. "Shut the door now, and don't stand loitering there!" my mother-in-law further commanded. Amelia is a poor relation, and has often to put up with unfinished manners. "Look here, my dear," Mrs. Gurrage said, when she felt sure we were alone, "I don't like it--and that's flat!" "What do you not like?" I said, respectfully. "Gussie's goings-on! If you tried to coax him more he would not be forever rushin' up to London to see that viscountess of his. I wonder you don't show no spark of jealousy. Law! I'd have scratched her eyes out had she interfered between me and Mr. Gurrage as she is doing between you two, even if she was a duchess!" "I do not understand," I said. "Well, you must have your eyes glued shut," Mrs. Gurrage continued, emphatically. "That Lady Grenellen, I mean. A nice viscountess she is, lookin' after other people's husbands! Why, you can't never have even glanced at the letters Gussie's got from her!" "Oh, but _of course_ not!" "Well, I have. My suspicions began to be aroused directly after you got back from Harley. I caught sight of a coronet on the envelope" (Mrs. Gurrage pronounces it "envellup"), "and I said to myself, there's something queer in that, Gussie never sayin' a word--he as would be so proud of a letter with a crown on it." "Yes," I said. I felt sorry for her, she was so agitated. All the veneer knowledge of grammar had left her, and she spoke with a broad, natural accent. "The next one that came--and never a word from him made me sure--so, I thought to myself, I'll make certain, and I opened the bag myself with my key for a few mornings--I came down early before him on purpose--and soon I sees another gold crown and great, sprawly writin'. The kettle was singing. It took me no time to get the gum unstuck, and--well there! My dear, you never did! I blush to think of it. The hussy! She was thankin' him for a diamond bracelet. Now I know my son Gussie well enough to know he did not give her that bracelet for nothing. Then she said as how he might come on Tuesday to see her, as she would be passin' through London and would be at her town-house for the day." "But please don't tell me--it--oh, one ought never to read other people's letters!" I exclaimed. Mrs. Gurrage flushed scarlet. "There! That's just you--your high and mighty sentiments! And why, pray, shouldn't a mother watch over her son, even if his wife has not the spirit to?" I did not answer.