"I have settled Miss Vernon at all events; she will not show up at Christmas. I know she hates the Duke of Hatherton so I told her he is coming, and I don't know as yet whether he is. It takes a woman to outwit a woman."
"I cannot see," Delrose had answered, "why you don't want her, Kate."
"Because you are blind, you goose; if she came Trevalyon might, and you don't want him; and I don't want her, and so I please you, you ungrateful man."
To Trevalyon by same mail came:
"My own idol, come to me and Delrose shall go; I have written Miss Vernon that he is here, because I don't want her freezing ladyship. Everyone says you are so naughty in having a hidden wife; they will cut you I am sure; but I love you all the more for your naughtiness; only come to yours evermore.—KATE HAUGHTON."
Trevalyon, giving a weary sigh on reading above, tearing it in two, tossed it into the fire; now opening one from his cousin Judith, he read as follows:
"DEAR COUSIN,—Father is not at all well; the trip across, as I feared, has been too much for him; the suburbs of New York, our home, suited him better than foggy London; however, dear father was obliged to come on business, as he has informed you when last able to write. He wishes me to enclose to you a scrap from the 'society' columns of one of our New York newspapers. 'We give a tid-bit of scandal (from a London paper), in brief, as the hero is a nephew of our Sir Vincent Trevalyon, of ——. Capt. Trevalyon (of the Towers, Northumberland), a gay society man, fascinating and handsome, is about to bring from her seclusion, his hidden wife; some years ago he had eloped with a friend's spouse, friend now has shuffled off mortal coil; outcome, my Lady Trevalyon, who will be the sensation of the coming season.' Father says to tell him on you honour, what truth there is in above—and I am,
"Yours very sincerely,
"Judith Trevalyon,
"The Langham, London, Nov. 77.
"Capt. Trevalyon,
"The Villa Iberia,
"Rome, Italy."
On reading above, Trevalyon, with sudden impulse, and craving for sympathy, handed it to his old friend.