“You have everything in your life to fill it--position, riches, friends--you don’t want a green-eyed adventuress.” I bent down and wrote steadily to Lady Katherine. I would be there about 6 o’clock, I said, and thanked her in my best style. “If I let you go, it is only for the time,” Mr. Carruthers said, as I signed my name. “I _intend_ you to marry me--do you hear!” “Again I say _qui vivra verra_!” I laughed, and rose with the note in my hand. Lord Robert looked almost ready to cry when I told him I was off in the afternoon. “I shall see you again,” he said. “Lady Katherine is a relation of my aunt’s husband, Lord Merrenden. I don’t know her myself, though.” I do not believe him--how can he see me again--young men do talk a lot of nonsense. “I shall come over on Wednesday to see how you are getting on,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Please do be in.” I promised I would, and then I came upstairs. And so it has come to an end, my life at Branches. I am going to start a new phase of existence, my first beginning as an adventuress! How completely all one’s ideas can change in a few days. This day three weeks ago Mrs. Carruthers was alive. This day two weeks ago I found myself no longer a prospective heiress--and only three days ago I was contemplating calmly the possibility of marrying Mr. Carruthers--and now--for heaven--I would not marry any one! And so, for fresh woods and pastures new. Oh! I want to see the world, and lots of different human beings--I want to know what it is makes the clock go round--that great, big, clock of life--I want to dance, and to sing, and to laugh, and to _live_--and--and--yes--perhaps some day to kiss some one I love----! TRYLAND COURT, HEADINGTON, _Wednesday, November 9th._ GOODNESS gracious! I have been here four whole days, and I continually ask myself how I shall be able to stand it for the rest of the fortnight. Before I left Branches I began to have a sinking at the heart. There were horribly touching farewells with housekeepers and people I have known since a child, and one hates to have that choky feeling--especially as just at the end of it--while tears were still in my eyes, Mr. Carruthers came out into the hall, and saw them--so did Lord Robert! I blinked, and blinked, but one would trickle down my nose. It was a horribly awkward moment. Mr. Carruthers made profuse inquiries as to my comforts for the drive, in a tone colder than ever, and insisted upon my drinking some cherry brandy. Such fussing is quite unlike his usual manner, so I suppose he too felt it was a tiresome _quart d’heure_. Lord Robert did not hide his concern, he came up to me and took my hand while Christopher was speaking to the footman who was going with me. “You are a dear,” he said, “and a brick, and don’t you forget I shall come and stay with Lady Katherine before you leave, so you won’t feel you are all among strangers.” I thanked him, and he squeezed my hand so kindly--I do like Lord Robert.