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information while I am making up my mind。 You have got twenty
pounds of mine still left out of those things you sold for me；
send ten pounds here for my expenses； in a post…office order； and
use the other ten for making private inquiries at Thorpe Ambrose。
I want to know when the two Blanchard women go away； and when
young Armadale stirs up the dead ashes in the family fire…place。
Are you quite sure he will turn out as easy to manage as you
think？ If he takes after his hypocrite of a mother； I can tell
you thisJudas Iscariot has come to life again。
〃I am very comfortable in this lodging。 There are lovely flowers
in the garden； and the birds wake me in the morning delightfully。
I have hired a reasonably good piano。 The only man I care two
straws aboutdon't be alarmed； he was laid in his grave many a
long year ago； under the name of BEETHOVENkeeps me company； in
my lonely hours。 The landlady would keep me company； too； if I
would only let her。 I hate women。 The new curate paid a visit to
the other lodger yesterday； and passed me on the lawn as he came
out。 My eyes have lost nothing yet； at any rate； though I _am_
five…and…thirty； the poor man actually blushed when I looked at
him！ What sort of color do you think he would have turned； if one
of the little birds in the garden had whispered in his ear； and
told him the true story of the charming Miss Gwilt？
〃Good…by； Mother Oldershaw。 I rather doubt whether I am yours； or
anybody's； affectionately； but we all tell lies at the bottoms of
our letters； don't we？ If you are my attached old friend； I must；
of course； be yours affectionately。
〃LYDIA GWILT。
〃P。S。Keep your odious powders and paints and washes for the
spotted shoulders of your customers； not one of them shall touch
my skin； I promise you。 If you really want to be useful； try and
find out some quieting draught to keep me from grinding my teeth
in my sleep。 I shall break them one of these nights； and then
what will become of my beauty； I wonder？〃
4。 _From Mrs。 Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Ladies' Toilet Repository； Tuesday。
〃MY DEAR LYDIAIt is a thousand pities your letter was not
addressed to Mr。 Armadale； your graceful audacity would have
charmed him。 It doesn't affect me； I am so well used to audacity
in my way of life； you know。 Why waste your sparkling wit； my
love； on your own impenetrable Oldershaw？ It only splutters and
goes out。 Will you try and be serious this next time？ I have news
for you from Thorpe Ambrose； which is beyond a joke； and which
must not be trifled with。
〃An hour after I got your letter I set the inquiries on foot。 Not
knowing what consequences they might lead to； I thought it safest
to begin in the dark。 Instead of employing any of the people whom
I have at my own disposal （who know you and know me）； I went to
the Private Inquiry Office in Shadyside Place； and put the matter
in the inspector's hands； in the character of a perfect stranger；
and without mentioning you at all。 This was not the cheapest way
of going to work； I own； but it was the safest way； which is of
much greater consequence。
〃The inspector and I understood each other in ten minutes； and
the right person for the purposethe most harmless looking young
man you ever saw in your lifewas produced immediately。 He left
for Thorpe Ambrose an hour after I saw him。 I arranged to call at
the office on the afternoons of Saturday； Monday； and to…day for
news。 There was no news till to…day； and there I found our
confidential agent just returned to town； and waiting to favor me
with a full account of his trip to Norfolk。
〃First of all； let me quiet your mind about those two questions
of yours； I have got answers to both the one and the other。 The
Blanchard women go away to foreign parts on the thirteenth； and
young Armadale is at this moment cruising somewhere at sea in his
yacht。 There is talk at Thorpe Ambrose of giving him a public
reception； and of calling a meeting of the local grandees to
settle it all。 The speechifying and fuss on these occasions
generally wastes plenty of time； and the public reception is not
thought likely to meet the new squire much before the end of the
month。
〃If our messenger had done no more for us than this； I think he
would have earned his money。 But the harmless young man is a
regular Jesuit at a private inquiry； with this great advantage
over all the Popish priests I have ever seen； that he has not got
his slyness written in his face。
〃Having to get his information through the female servants in the
usual way； he addressed himself； with admirable discretion； to
the ugliest woma n in the house。 'When they are nice…looking； and
can pick and choose；' as he neatly expressed it to me； 'they
waste a great deal of valuable time in deciding on a sweetheart。
When they are ugly； and haven't got the ghost of a chance of
choosing； they snap at a sweetheart； if he comes their way； like
a starved dog at a bone。' Acting on these excellent principles；
our confidential agent succeeded； after certain unavoidable
delays； in addressing himself to the upper housemaid at Thorpe
Ambrose； and took full possession of her confidence at the first
interview。 Bearing his instructions carefully in mind； he
encouraged the woman to chatter； and was favored； of course； with
all the gossip of the servants' hall。 The greater part of it （as
repeated to me） was of no earthly importance。 But I listened
patiently； and was rewarded by a valuable discovery at last。 Here
it is。
〃It seems there is an ornamental cottage in the grounds at Thorpe
Ambrose。 For some reason unknown； young Armadale has chosen to
let it； and a tenant has come in already。 He is a poor half…pay
major in the army； named Milroy； a meek sort of man； by all
accounts； with a turn for occupying himself in mechanical
pursuits； and with a domestic incumbrance in the shape of a
bedridden wife； who has not been seen by anybody。 Well； and what
of all this？ you will ask； with that sparkling impatience which
becomes you so well。 My dear Lydia； don't sparkle！ The man's
family affairs seriously concern us both； for； as ill luck will
have it； the man has got a daughter！
〃You may imagine how I questioned our agent； and how our agent
ransacked his memory； when I stumbled； in due course； on such a
discovery as this。 If Heaven is responsible for women's
chattering tongues； Heaven be praised！ From Miss Blanchard to
Miss Blanchard's maid； from Miss Blanchard's maid to Miss
Blanchard's aunt's maid； from Miss Blanchard's aunt's maid； to
the ugly housemaid； from the ugly housemaid to the
harmless…looking young manso the stream of gossip trickled into
the right reservoir at last； and thirsty Mother Oldershaw has
drunk it all up。
〃In plain English； my dear； this is how it stands。 The major's
daughter is a minx just turned sixteen； lively and nice…looking
（hateful little wretch！）； dowdy in her dress （thank Heaven！） and
deficient in her manners （thank Heaven again！）。 She has been
brought up at home。 The governess who last had charge of her left
before her father moved to Thorpe Ambrose。 Her education stands
woefully in want of a finishing touch； and the major doesn't
quite know what to do next。 None of his friends can recommend him
a new governess and he doesn't like the notion of sending the
girl to school。 So matters rest at present； on the major's own
showing； for so the major expressed himself at a morning call
which the father and daughter paid to the ladies at the great
house。
〃You have now got my promised news； and you will have little
difficulty； I think； in agreeing with me that the Armadale
business must be settled at once； one way or the other。 If； with
your hopeless prospects； and with what I may call your family
claim on this young fellow； you decide on giving him up； I shall
have the pleasure of sending you the balance of your account with
me （seven…and…twenty shillings）； and shall then be free to devote
myself entirely to my own proper business。 If； on the contrary；
you decide to try your luck at Thorpe Ambrose； then （there being
no kind of doubt that the major's minx will set her cap at the
young squire） I should be glad to hear how you mean to meet the
double difficulty of inflaming Mr。 Armadale and extinguishing
Miss Milroy。
〃Affectionately yours；
〃MARIA OLDERSHAW。
5。 _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs。 Oldershaw。
（First Answer。）_
〃Richmond； Wednesday Morning。
〃MRS。 OLDERSHAWSend me my seven…and…twenty shillings； and
devote yourself to your own proper business。 Yours； L。 G。〃
6。 _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs。 Oldershaw。
（Second Answer。）_
〃Richmond； Wednesday Night。
〃DEAR OLD LOVEKeep the seven…and…twenty shillings； and burn my
other letter。 I have changed my mind。
〃I wrote the first time after a horrible night。 I write this time
after a ride on horseback； a tumbler of claret； and the breast of
a chicken。 Is that explanation enough？ Please say Yes； for I want
to go back to my piano。
〃No； I can't go back yet； I must answer your question first。 But
are you really so very simple as to suppose that I don't see
straight through you and your letter？ You know that the major's
difficulty is our opportunity as well as I do；