They think nothing of thirty-two.  All of which, au fond, rather rejoices me, for if she really had been a miller’s daughter, it would have seemed a good deal like throwing yourself away, and who knows what your rusty, crusty old uncle B. might have said?  I’ve long had a rod in pickle for him, and t’other day I applied it. Attendez.

“Don’t forget the pig you purchased—­so gallantly and confidingly.  I would not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments—­your pig will gobble ’em up.  You should by this have received a communication from my solicitors.  Remember, you have pledged your sacred promise.  There must be no question of trying to shirk or burke it.  Remember that I am quite outrageously rich.  I have no children of my own, and no very near relatives, (and my distant ones are intensely disagreeable), and I can’t help looking upon the heir of the Blanchemains as a kind of spiritual son.  In your position there’s no such thing as having too much money.  Take all that comes, and never mind the quarter whence.  They’re Plymouth Brethren, and send me tracts.

“Good-bye now till August, if not before.  For of course in August you must come to me at Fring.  Will you bring your bride?  When and where the wedding?  I suppose they’ll want it in Austria.  Beware of long engagements—­or of too short ones.  The autumn’s the time,—­the only pretty ring-time.  You see, you’ll need some months for the preparation of your trousseau.  I love a man to be smart.  Well, good-bye.  I was so sorry about that child’s illness, but thankful to hear she was mending.

     “Yours affectionately,

     “LINDA BLANCHEMAIN.”

And his registered letter, when at last he opened it, ran thus:—­

“DEAR SIR:—­Pursuant to instructions received from our client Lady Blanchemain, we beg to hand you herewith our cheque for Seven hundred and fifty pounds (L750 stg.), and to request the favour of your receipt for the same, together with the address of your bankers, that we may pay in quarterly a like sum to your account, it being her ladyship’s intention, immediately upon her return to England, to effect a settlement upon yourself and heirs of L100,000 funded in Bk. of Eng. stock.

“We are further to have the pleasure to inform you that by the terms of a will just prepared by us, and to be executed by Lady Blanchemain at the earliest possible date, you are constituted her residuary legatee.

     “With compliments and respectful congratulations,

     “We have the honour, dear Sir, to be,

     “Your obedient servants,

     “FARROW, BERNSCOT, AND TISDALE.”

And then there came another tap at the door, and it was the postman who had returned, with a third letter which, like the true Italian postman that he was, he had forgotten,—­and I fancy, if it hadn’t been for that tip still warm in his pocket, the easy-going fellow would have allowed it to stand over till to-morrow.  He made, at any rate, a great virtue of having discovered it and of having retraced his steps.