Year: 1878

handsomely kept, with many Dcautllui llo"efs
| suppose my uncle must be very wealthy
Judging from the style in which he lives. AL
though most people here, understand, have
suffered greatly by the war, and but few prl
vate equipage Gre seen, compared with what
were formerly here he keeps two carriages
and four or five horses, with servants III llv
cry and everything else to correspond. Sc
much for the house and its appointments no"
for its residents. My uncle cannot but like
TO me he is exceedingly kind, and he appears
in all respects amiable. He has lively man
ner, but does not seem to control or interfere
with any of the domestic arrangements.
think he is entirely guided by my aunt who
has great influence over him, and managing
way about her, to which every one seems to
yield She also makes great deal of me in
fact makes great fuss, which | do not like
She seems to be trying to make amends for
anything in her past conduct which l may
have thought unkind. am sure now that it
was she, and not my uncle, who objected to
my coming here to live, after my fathers
death. Perhaps it is wrong in me to say this,
or write anything about her which is not
pleasant, particularly as / have no proofs
but to you must write as freely SIS | would
speak. She is quite elderly, | should say
fully as old as my uncle, but has great dash
and show about her, and, fancy, not great
deal of heart. There is a cousin of mine here,
Myra Dashwood, girl of about my own
age whom | should like, believe, very
much, if she would permit me to know her.
But she is very tmid and reserved, and will
never converse socially, though try to in
duce her. She seems to stand good deal
in awe of my aunt, who is evidently not fond
of her. Sometimes she orders her about al
most as though she were servant, and Myra
seems afraid to disobey. | think there is a
mystery of some sort about her, though |
cannot make out what it is. Although really
one of the family, she is like one apart. |
mean to win her confidence, if | can. l
should like to make her happier than she is.
She is so different from the girls knew at
school! 1t was easy enough to get acquaint-
ed with them. Then there is Monsieur Lam
bert, whom I think you scarcely saw the
morning he came for me- | really cannot
/ tell whether he is pleasant or not. He is good.
looking and quite gentleman, and was very
courteous to me throughout our voyage and
the rest of the journey but in fact scarce
! ly know him yet, for he does not talk much.
The first evening was here, was very tired
and went early to bed ; but last night we at
tended the Opera. My aunt has box there,
and invited two gentlemen to accompany US,
but they were old gentlemen. One was Mr..
Lacy, a lawyer, and the other somebody
whose name forget, but who carried on an
absolute hirtaton with Madame Dashwood !!
Imagine a lady of her age flirting, and a
married lady tool presume it was all in
jest; but it did not add to my respect for her.
| asked why Myra did not 60, and Aunt Au.
gusta told me that she did not care to 60 to
places of amusement. heard her (my aunt
! trying to persuade her son to make one Of
the party, but he refused. did not distin-
guish what he said but his manner to her
was little brusque 1t strikes me that there
is want of harmony among the different ele.
ments which constitute the famil y circle !;
but, perhaps, when know my new relatives
better, shall understand their ways, which
are certainly little incomprehensible to me
as yet. My aunt receives a great deal of
company There have been guests at dinner
each of the two days which | have spent here,
and others are expected to-day. Besides this,
visitors are constantly coming. My aunt told
me this morning that she wished me always
to be in readiness by one o'clock, to 60 into
the drawng.room. 1t is for this reason that
have chosen a quiet time for writing to
you. 1t seems that | am not likely to be
much interfered with between breakfast and
lunch, which | am very glad Of My aunt
says have very incomplete wardrobe, and
has already ordered four new dresses for me,
all much more stylish than anything have
ever worn. Fortunate y my two white dresses
are nice enough to please her. Yesterday my
uncle bought me All elegant little watch
and he has also given me the hest saddle
horse in his stables am to have a riding
dress made Immediately, Of dark blue cloth,
and Aunt Augusta says that Mr.. Lambert
will give me lessons you know | am by no
means an experienced rider, though | used to
enjoy galloping about the lanes on dear old
Bonaparte. | hope Bonaparte is we'll. |
wonder if he will remember me when | re-
turn? Oh those happy, happy times; it
makes ME shed tears to remember. l can
never, never, be as happy here as have been
with you. Dear Madame, dear kind friend,
please write to me very soon, and just as Oft
en- as you can. / shall prize your letters,
Oh so highly. can never forget your good
ness to me. | pray for your welfare, morn
ing and night. Last night saw you and EN-.
braced you in my dreams. | thought saw
you walking down the avenue, and ran to meet
you, and we walked to old Marquerite's cot.
tage. How is old Marguerite, and the little
lame grandson? Remember me to them aud
to all the dear people; tell them not to for.
get me- l need not tell you that you will
think of your poor, forlorn Helen always. |
am forlorn because am separated from eve
rything l love; still, must be grateful for
all that is done for me here yet gratitude is
not love. Dearest Madame, see what long
letter | have written you; yet it has not
seemed long in writing it. My pen has flown
over the paper. envy this letter, because it
will soon be at lie Bocage. | can zee you
reading it, sitting in your high-backed red
chair, by the south window; perhaps old
Nanette is purring on your lap. Tell Nan
ette there is cat here, but not so handsome
or affectionate as she is. There, am begin
ming to write nonsense, so | had better stop.


81 shall anxiously await letter from you
Please give my regards to Monsieur Victor
send you many, many kisses, and more love
than can express.


liver your devoted and sincere


"HELES."


Helen had fingered longer over the con
cludng lines than all the former part Of this
lengthy epistle That one little phrase "Pease
give my regards to Monsieur Victor" had