I trouble you with a few lines to his Lordship expressive of my thanks for his very handsome and gratifying communication, and I hope he will not consider it as intrusive in a veteran author to pay my debt of gratitude for the high pleasure I have received from the perusal of 'Childe Harold,' which is certainly the most original poem which we have had this many a day....

Jeannie instantly applied herself to her sister's relief, and Ratcliffe had even the delicacy to withdraw to the other end of the room to render his official attendance as little intrusive as possible; while Jeannie commenced her narrative of all that had passed between her and Robertson.

'And so, when he asked me to come and see his wife firstto tell her about his troubles and his breakdownI felt as if I could not refusethough, of course, I know'she looked up appealingly'it may well seem strange and intrusive to Mrs. Fenwick.