I fear I have been rather to blame in seeing you without Mrs Ottley's knowledge, but you know how one's feelings sometimes lead one to do what one knows one ought not to ...' 'Sandringham, indeed! Some boarding house, I suppose,' said Bruce to himself.

'What a lot of 'ones'!...

Fine grammar for a governess.' '...

Wishing you every happiness (I _shall_ miss the children!).
Yours sincerely, Margaret Townsend '_P.S._--I shall never forget how happy I was with you and Mrs Ottley.' Bruce's expression as he read the last line was rather funny.
'She's a silly little fool, and I shan't answer,' he reflected.
Re-reading the letter, he found it more unsatisfactory still, and destroyed it.
The thought of Miss Townsend bored him unutterably; and indeed he was incapable of caring for any woman (however feebly) for more than two or three weeks.

He was particularly fickle, vague, and scrappy in his emotions.