too many
pancakes, and Lord Torrington, when he began to soften down a bit,
turned out to be hungry. In the end we all went home together in Joseph
Antony Kinsella's big boat, Lord Torrington having put on his clothes
again and father's oilskins, which were providentially saved from the
wreck. Lady Isabel and Barnabas held each other's hands the whole time
in a way that I thought rather disgusting, though Cousin Frank says it
is common enough among those in that state. I hope I never shall be; but
of course I may. One can't be really sure beforehand. Anyhow I shan't
like it if I am. Lady Isabel did, which made it worse. Father met us at
the quay and said he didn't believe there was a single grain of shot in
the whole of Timothy Sweeny's fat body and that the entire thing was a
plant I didn't understand this at the time, though now I do; but it's
too long to write; though it would interest you if written.

"For days and days Lady Torrington was more obdurate than the winter
wind and the serpent's tooth. She said those two things often and often,
and the one about the winter wind shows that she has read 'As You
Like It.' I don't know the one about the serpent's tooth. It may be in
Shakespeare, but is _not_ in Wordsworth's 'Excursion.' I think she meant
Lady Isabel, not herself. Barnabas slept in the Geraghtys' gate lodge,
a bed being made up for him and food sent down, though he was let in to
lunch with us after a time. There were terrific consultations which I
did not hear, being of course regarded as a child. Nor did Cousin Frank,
which was rather insulting to him, considering that he can behave quite
like a grown up when he tries. But all came right in the end. We think
that Lord Torrington has promised to make Barnabas a bishop in the army,
which Cousin Frank says he can do quite easily if he likes, being the
head of the War Office. Father kept harping on, especially at luncheon,
when Barnabas was there, to find out why they fled to Rosnacree. Rose,
the under housemaid, told me that it came out in the end that Lady
Isabel simply went to the man at Euston station and asked for a ticket
to the furthest off place he sold tickets to. This, may be true.
Rose heard it from Mrs. Geraghty, who came up every day to hook Lady
Torrington's back. But I doubt it myself. There must be further off
places than Rosnacree, though, of course, not many. At one time there
threatened to be rather a row about our not giving up the fugitives