CHAPTER XL.
An Interview with Lady Mary.
Master Raymond, having obtained an introduction to the Governor's wife, Lady Mary, lost no time in endeavoring to "cultivate the amenities of life," so far as that very influential person was concerned.

He had paid the most deferential court to her on several occasions where he had been able to meet her socially; and had impressed the Governor's lady very favorably, as being an unusually handsome, well-bred and highly cultivated young man.

A comely and high-spirited lady of forty, she was better pleased to be the recipient of the courteous and deferential attentions of a young Englishman of good connections like Master Raymond, than even to listen to the wise and weighty counsel of so learned a man as Master Cotton Mather.
Only in the last minutes of their last meeting however, when handing her ladyship to her carriage, did Master Raymond feel at liberty to ask her if he could have a short private interview with her the next morning.
She looked a little surprised, and then said, "Of course, Master Raymond." "At what hour will it suit your ladyship ?" "At twelve, precisely, I have an engagement at one;" and the carriage drove off.
A minute or two before twelve, Master Raymond was at the Governor's house in Green lane; and was duly admitted, as one expected, and shown into her ladyship's boudoir.
"Now, come right to the point, Master Raymond; and tell me what I can do for you," said her ladyship smiling.

"If I can help you, I will; if I cannot, or must not, I shall say so at once--and you must continue to be just as good a friend to me as ever." "I promise that to your ladyship," replied the young man earnestly.

He really liked and admired Lady Mary very much.
"Is it love, or money ?--young men always want one of these." "Your ladyship is as quick-witted in this as in everything else." "Well, which is it ?" "Love." "Ah--who ?" "Mistress Dulcibel Burton." "What!--not the girl with the snake-mark ?" Raymond bowed his head very low in answer.
Lady Mary laughed.