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of writing impartially of my friend。 At the imminent risk of his own life； Rothsay re scued me from a dreadful death by accident； when we were at college together。 Who can expect me to speak of his faults？ I am not even capable of seeing them。
Under these embarrassing circumstancesand not forgetting； at the same time； that a servant's opinion of his master and his master's friends may generally be trusted not to err on the favorable sideI am tempted to call my valet as a witness to character。
I slept badly on our first night at Rome； and I happened to be awake while the man was talking of us confidentially in the courtyard of the hoteljust under my bedroom window。 Here； to the best of my recollection； is a faithful report of what he said to some friend among the servants who understood English：
〃My master's well connected； you must knowthough he's only plain Mr。 Lepel。 His uncle's the great lawyer； Lord Lepel； and his late father was a banker。 Rich； did you say？ I should think he _was_ richand be hanged to him！ No； not married； and not likely to be。 Owns he was forty last birthday； a regular old bachelor。 Not a bad sort； taking him altogether。 The worst of him is； he is one of the most indiscreet persons I ever met with。 Does the queerest things； when the whim takes him； and doesn't care what other people think of it。 They say the Lepels have all got a slate loose in the upper story。 Oh； no； not a very old familyI mean； nothing compared to the family of his friend； young Rothsay。 _They_ count back； as I have heard； to the ancient kings of Scotland。 Between ourselves； the ancient kings haven't left the Rothsays much money。 They would be glad； I'll be bound； to get my rich master for one of their daughters。 Poor as Job； I tell you。 This young fellow； traveling with us； has never had a spare five…pound note since he was born。 Plenty of brains in his head； I grant you； and a little too apt sometimes to be suspicious of other people。 But liberaloh； give him his dueliberal in a small way。 Tips me with a sovereign now and then。 I take itLord bless you； I take it。 What do you say？ Has he got any employment？ Not he！ Dabbles in chemistry （experiments； and that sort of thing） by way of amusing himself； and tells the most infernal lies about it。 The other day he showed me a bottle about as big as a thimble； with what looked like water in it； and said it was enough to poison everybody in the hotel。 What rot！ Isn't that the clock striking again？ Near about bedtime； I should say。 Wish you good night。〃
There are our charactersdrawn on the principle of justice without mercy； by an impudent rascal who is the best valet in England。 Now you know what sort of persons we are； and now we may go on again。
Rothsay and I parted； soon after our night at the theater。 He went to Civita Vecchia to join a friend's yacht； waiting for him in the harbor。 I turned homeward； traveling at a leisurely rate through the Tyrol and Germany。
After my arrival in England； certain events in my life occurred which did not appear to have any connection at the time。 They led； nevertheless； to consequences which seriously altered the relations of happy past years between Rothsay and myself。
The first event took place on my return to my house in London。 I found among the letters waiting for me an invitation from Lord Lepel to spend a few weeks with him at his country seat in Sussex。
I had made so many excuses； in past years； when I received invitations from my uncle； that I was really ashamed to plead engagements in London again。 There was no unfriendly feeling between us。 My only motive for keeping away from him took its rise in dislike of the ordinary modes of life in an English country…house。 A man who feels no interest in politics； who cares nothing for field sports； who is impatient of amateur music and incapable of small talk； is a man out of his element in country society。 This was my unlucky case。 I went to Lord Lepel's house sorely against my will； longing already for the day when it would be time to say good…by。
The routine of my uncle's establishment had remained unaltered since my last experience of it。
I found my lord expressing the same pride in his collection of old masters； and telling the same story of the wonderful escape of his picture…gallery from fireI renewed my acquaintance with the same members of Parliament among the guests； all on the same side in politicsI joined in the same dreary amusementsI saluted the same resident priest （the Lepels are all born and bred Roman Catholics）I submitted to the same rigidly early breakfast hour； and inwardly cursed the same peremptory bell； ringing as a means of reminding us of our meals。 The one change that presented itself was a change out of the house。 Death had removed the lodgekeeper at the park…gate。 His widow and daughter （Mrs。 Rymer and little Susan） remained in their pretty cottage。 They had been allowed by my lord's kindness to take charge of the gate。
Out walking； on the morning after my arrival； I was caught in a shower on my way back to the park； and took shelter in the lodge。
In the bygone days I had respected Mrs。 Rymer's husband as a thoroughly worthy manbut Mrs。 Rymer herself was no great favorite of mine。 She had married beneath her； as the phrase is； and she was a little too conscious of it。 A woman with a sharp eye to her own interests； selfishly discontented with her position in life； and not very scrupulous in her choice of means when she had an end in view： that is how I describe Mrs。 Rymer。 Her daughter； whom I only remembered as a weakly child； astonished me when I saw her again after the interval that had elapsed。 The backward flower had bloomed into perfect health。 Susan was now a lovely little modest girl of seventeenwith a natural delicacy and refinement of manner； which marked her to my mind as one of Nature's gentlewomen。 When I entered the lodge she was writing at a table in a corner； having some books on it； and rose to withdraw。 I begged that she would proceed with her employment； and asked if I might know what it was。 She answered me with a blush； and a pretty brightening of her clear blue eyes。 〃I am trying； sir； to teach myself French；〃 she said。 The weather showed no signs of improvingI volunteered to help her； and found her such an attentive and intelligent pupil that I looked in at the lodge from time to time afterward； and continued my instructions。 The younger men among my uncle's guests set their own stupid construction on my attentions 〃to the girl at the gate；〃 as they called herrather too familiarly； according to my notions of propriety。 I contrived to remind them that I was old enough to be Susan's father； in a manner which put an end to their jokes； and I was pleased to hear； when I next went to the lodge； that Mrs。 Rymer had been wise enough to keep these facetious gentlemen at their proper distance
The day of my departure arrived。 Lord Leper took leave of me kindly； and asked for news of Rothsay。 〃Let me know when your friend returns；〃 my uncle said； 〃he belongs to a good old stock。 Put me in mind of him when I next invite you to come to my house。〃
On my way to the train I stopped of course at the lodge to say good…by。 Mrs。