Tales and Novels, vol 10

ear Helen with them; but when or where never specified--and a general invitation, as every body knows, means nothing but "Good morning to you."

Mrs. Coldstream ends with, "I forbear to say more at present," without giving any reason.

"And here is the dean's dear duchess, always in the greatest haste, with 'You know my heart,' in a parenthesis, 'ever and ever most sincerely and affec'--yours.'"

"And the Davenants," continued Mrs. Collingwood, "who were such near neighbours, and who were so kind to the dean at Florence; they have not even written!"

"But they are at Florence still," said Mr. Collingwood, "they can hardly have heard of the poor dean's death."

The Davenants were the great people of this part of the country; their place, Cecilhurst, was close to the deanery and to the vicarage, but they were not known to the Collingwoods, who had come to Cecilhurst during the dean's absence abroad.

"And here is Mrs. Wilmot too," continued Mrs. Collingwood, "wondering as usu