The New Magdalen

"My mother and sisters, in the event of your returning to England,

desire me to say that it will afford them the greatest pleasure to make

your acquaintance. Sympathizing with me, they do not forget what you too

have suffered. A warm welcome awaits you when you pay your first visit

at our house. Most truly yours, "HORACE HOLMCROFT."

From MISS GRACE ROSEBERRY to MR. HORACE HOLMCROFT.

"DEAR MR. HOLMCROFT--I snatch a few moments from my other avocations to

thank you for your most interesting and delightful letter. How well you

describe, how accurately you judge! If Literature stood a little higher

as a profession, I should almost advise you--but no! if you entered

Literature, how could _you_ associate with the people whom you would be

likely to meet?

"Between ourselves, I always thought Mr. Julian Gray an overrated man.

I will not say he has justified my opinion. I will only say I pity him.

But, dear Mr. Holmcroft, how can you, with your sound judgment, place

the sad alternatives now before him on the same level? To die in Green

Anchor Fields, or to fall into the clutches of that vile wretch--is

there any comparison between the two? Better a thousand times die at the

post of duty than marry Mercy Merrick.

"As I have written the creature's name, I may add--so as to have all the

sooner done with the subject--that I shall look with anxiety for your

next letter. Do not suppose that I feel the smallest curiosity about

this degraded and designing woman. My interest in her is purely

religious. To persons of my devout turn of mind she is an awful warning.

When I feel Satan near me--it will be _such_ a means of grace to think

of Mercy Merrick!

"Poor Lady Janet! I noticed those signs of mental decay to which you

so feelingly allude at the last interview I had with her in Mablethorpe

House. If you can find an opportunity, will you say that I wish her

well, here and hereafter? and will you please add that I do not omit to

remember her in my prayers?

"There is just a chance of my visiting England toward the close of

the autumn. My fortunes have changed since I wrote last. I have been

received as reader and companion by a lady who is the wife of one of

our high judicial functionaries in this part of the world. I do not take

much interest in _him_; he is what they call a 'self-made man.' His wife

is charming. Besides being a person of highly intellectual tastes, she

is greatly her husband's superior--as you will understand when I tell

you that she is related to the Gommerys of Pommery; _not_ the Pommerys

of Gommery, who (as your knowledge of our old families will inform you)

only claim kindred with the younger branch of that ancient race.