"My wife's niece has been her companion for years. She has left us to be married to an officer, who has taken her to India; and we are utterly at a loss how to fill her place. The good old lady doesn't want much. A nice-tempered refined girl, who can sing and play to her with some little taste and feeling, and read to her now and then when her eyes are weary--there is what we require;and there, it seems, is more than we can get, after advertising for a week past. Of all the 'companions' who have presented themselves, not one has turned out to be the sort of person whom Lady Howel wants.
"Can you help us? In any case, my wife sends you her kind remembrances; and (true to the old times) I add my love."~ On the day which followed the receipt of this letter, **** paid a visit to Lady Howel Beaucourt.
"You seem to be excited," she said. "Has anything remarkable happened?""Pardon me if I ask a question first," **** replied. "Do you object to a young widow?""That depends on the widow."