"
"I can't tell how much longer we may remain here," her interesting
letter continued, "Papa is still hopeful of wonderful results, there
are some placid suitors going about, loaded with a burden of pedigree
and the honours of their dead, and I know that my sanguine parent
fondly expects, that he shall awake some morning and find our
generation made famous by such a burden being condescendingly laid
before my satin slippers. _Vanitas Vanitatum!_ But, how grand it would
be? Picture it, think of it, common place men! Sir Maximus and Lady
Adlepait? How would the obscure Miss Hampden, fancy that? To be sure,
this indefinite suitor has nought but the borrowed chivalry of his
departed ancestors, and if he seek to crown me at all (which is only a
heart-rending possibility) it must be with the laurels, hard won by
the heroes of a former generation. His silky hands will be full of
nothing more tempting than slender veins of genuine blue-blood--but,
as papa says--what do we want any more money for, we have enough for
any ordinary human life-time?"
"If the project of my anxious parent should assume any definite or
reliable outlines, I shall let you know immediately, for I have
implicit faith in you, and I know you would never betray me, I must
tell my novel experiences and opinions to some one, and the best
someone is you. Take every care of yourself, while I am absent, some
day you will be coming to my manor-house on a visit.
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