"Old Rebecca? why I made her acquaintance among the shingles and cockles on the sea-shore last year--a charming old sea-nymph, or whatever you call it." "We all have a great respect for Mrs. Mervyn, down here, in Cardyllian. The family has a great opinion of her, and they think a great deal of her, like us," said Mr. Robson, who did not care to hear any mysterious names applied to her without a protest. "Well--so I say--so have I. I'll give her the letter, and take a receipt," said Sedley, extending his hand. "There really _is_ a receipt, sir, wanting," said the official, amused. "It came this morning--and if you'll come in--if it isn't too much trouble--I'll show it to you, please, sir." In he stepped to the post-office, where Mr. Robson showed him a letter which he had that afternoon received. It said,-- "SIR,--I enclose five shillings, represented by postage-stamps, which will enable you to pay a messenger on whom you can depend, to deliver a letter which I place along with this in the post-office, into the hand of Mrs. Mervyn, Steward's House, Malory, Cardyllian, to whom it is addressed, and which is marked with the letter D at the left-hand corner. "I am, sir, "Your obt. servant, "J. DINGWELL." "The letter is come," said Mr. Robson, taking it out of a pigeon-hole in a drawer, and thumbing it, and smiling on it with a gentle curiosity. "Yes--that's it," said Tom Sedley, also reading the address. "'Mrs. Mervyn'--what a queer old ghost of a lady she is--'Malory,' that's the ground--and the letter D in the corner. Well, I'm quite serious. I'll take the letter with pleasure, and see the old woman, and put it into her hand. I'm not joking, and I shall be back again in an hour, I dare say, and I'll tell you what she says, and how she looks--that is, assuming it is a love-letter." "Well, sir, as you wish it; and it's very kind of you, and the old lady must sign a receipt, for the letter's registered--but it's too much trouble for you, sir, isn't it really?" "Nonsense; give me the letter. If you won't, I can't help it." "And this receipt should be signed." "And the receipt also." So away went our friend, duly furnished, and marched over the hill we know so well, that over-hangs the sea, and down by the narrow old road to Malory, thinking of many things. The phantom of the beautiful lady of Malory was very much faded now. Even as he looked down on the old house and woodlands, the romance came not again. It was just a remembered folly, like others, and excited or pained him little more. But a new trouble vexed him. How many of our blessings do we take for granted, enjoy thanklessly, like our sight, our hearing, our health, and only appreciate when they are either withdrawn or in danger!