“No, I can’t do that--I am not engaged to you, and cannot be until your family consent, and are nice to me,” I said. “Darling,” he faltered, and his voice trembled with emotion, “darling, love is between you and me, it is our lives--however that can go, the ways of my family, nothing shall ever separate you from me, or me from you, I swear it. Write to Christopher.” I sat down at a table in the hall and wrote, “DEAR MR. CARRUTHERS,--I am sorry I was out,” then I bit the end of my pen. “Don’t come and see me this evening. I will tell you why in a day or two. “Yours sincerely, “EVANGELINE TRAVERS.” “Will that do?” I said, and I handed it to Robert, while I addressed the envelope. “Yes,” he said, and waited while I sealed it up, and gave it to the porter. Then, with a surreptitious squeeze of the hand, he left me to go to Lady Merrenden. I have come up to my little sitting-room a changed being. The whole world revolves for me upon another axis, and all within the space of three short hours. CLARIDGE’S, _Sunday night, Nov. 27th._ LATE this evening, about eight o’clock, when I had re-locked my journal, I got a note from Robert. I was just going to begin my dinner. I tore it open, inside was another, I did not wait to look from whom, I was too eager to read his. I paste it in. “CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE. “MY DARLING,--I have had a long talk with Aunt Sophia, and she is everything that is sweet and kind, but she fears Torquilstone will be a little difficult (_I don’t care, nothing_ shall separate us now). She asks me not to go and see you again to-night, as she thinks it would be better for you that I should not go to the Hotel so late. Darling, read her note, and you will she how nice she is. I shall come round to-morrow, the moment the beastly stables are finished, about 12 o’clock. Oh! take care of yourself! What a difference to-night and last night! I was feeling horribly miserable and reckless--and to-night! Well, you can guess! I am not half good enough for you, darling, beautiful Queen--but I think I shall know how to make you happy. I love you! “Good night my own, “ROBERT.” “Do please send me a tiny line by my servant--I have told him to wait.”