The Californians

  XXII

  The next morning, as she was starting for the woods, rather later thanusual, Dick, the stable-boy, who had just returned from the post-office,detached a letter from a packet he was handing the butler and ran afterher. As Helena was her only correspondent, she marvelled at the strangehandwriting, but opened the letter more promptly than most women do inthe circumstances. It was from Trennahan and read:

  DEAR MISS YORBA,--I have virtually bought the place. That is to say, I shall buy it as soon as the deeds are made out. Meanwhile, I am looking for servants and hope to move down on Monday next at latest. Mr. Smith has also consented to sell me his stud, which, your father tells me, is exceptionally fine. So, you see, I am really to be your neighbour, and am hoping you are friendly enough not to be displeased. At all events, I shall give myself the pleasure of riding over on Monday evening, and hope that you will join me in another ride on the following morning. Meanwhile, can I do anything for you in town? Is there anything that you would care to read? Pray command me.

  Faithfully,

  J. S. TRENNAHAN.

  Never was there a more commonplace or business-like note, but it seemeda miracle of easy grace to Magdalena: it was the first note of any sortthat she had received from a man not old enough to be her father. Sheinvested it with all the man's magnetism, and heard it enunciated in hiscultivated voice. She imagined it delivered in the nasal tones of heruncle, or in the thick voice of the youth that had sat on her left atthe birthday dinner,--she had forgotten his name,--and shuddered.

  She recalled that her mother had received an envelope directed by thesame hand the night before; but that, doubtless, had been a mere note ofpoliteness. He had written this because he wished to do so!

  She spent the entire morning answering the note, and discovered that itwas as easy to write a book. After tearing up some twenty epistles, sheconcluded that the following, when copied on her best note-paper, andcompared with the dictionary, would do,--

  DEAR MR. TRENNAHAN,--I am glad that you have bought the Mark Smith place. There is nothing that I want. Many thanks.

  Yours truly,

  MAGDALENA YORBA.