That’s all. _End of Number 1 of THE BEGUILER; or THE INVALID’S FRIEND._ LXIV VERENA RABY TO EVANGELINE BARRANCE MY DEAR EVANGELINE,—_The Beguiler_ is by far the best magazine I ever read. I prefer it to all others, and if I were allowed to get up I should try it in my bath; but I can’t yet and therefore have to be washed by a nurse. I never knew before that flowers wielded such graceful pens and the next time I go into the garden—which I hope will be this year—I shall walk up and down the borders with a new respect for them. _The Invalid’s Friend_ has served its purpose wonderfully. I have read it three times with delight. It has made all its rivals on my table here look very foolish—the _Nineteenth Century_ is conscious, beside it, of being too wordy, and _Blackwood’s_ of being without method, and the _Cornhill_ of coming out too often, with a vulgar frequency, and the _Strand_ of being too serious. I am very proud of having a niece who is also such an editor. The only reason in the world why I don’t want to get well instantly is because I want to read the next number.—Your affectionate and grateful aunt. VERENA, B.I. (_Beguiled Invalid_) LXV JOSEY RABY TO VERENA RABY DEAREST OF AUNTS,—Now you are up to writing letters, I do wish you would send a line to father to try and make him more reasonable. He actually takes up the line that no girl should marry under the age of twenty-one and then not before she has known the man for a year. Just think of being so out-of-date as that! And he is so sensible in almost every other way, except about ices. There are some men of course who need time for knowing, but Vincent is not one of them. I feel that I have known him all my life, although it is really only two months, but then he is so simple and open. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t call me his Sphinx, would he? For there is nothing mysterious about me really. Don’t you think that our first duty is to ourselves and that the fulfilment of ourselves is sacred? I do, and I can fulfil myself only by marrying Vincent. Do, do help me!—Your loving J. LXVI VERENA RABY TO JOSEY RABY