? "But you haven't _seen_
her?" said she. No--Mr. Norbury had _not_ seen her; perfect candour must
admit that. She was only known to him by report, gathered from
conversations in which he himself was not joining. How could he be
induced to disclose that part of them that was responsible for a
peculiar emphasis in his reply to her ladyship's previous question?

Not by the Countess's--"She is being well attended to, I suppose?"
spoken as by one floating at a great height above human affairs, but to
a certain extent responsible if they miscarried. For this only produced
a cordial testimonial from the Oracle to the assiduity, care, and skill
with which every want of the old lady was being supplied. Gwen's method
was likely to be much more effective, helped as it was by her absolute
licence to be and to do whatever she liked, and to suffer nothing
counter to her wishes, though, indeed, she always gained them by
omnipotent persuasion. She had also, as we have seen, a happy faculty of
going straight to the point. So had Farmer Jones's Bull, no doubt, on
occasion shown.

"Which is it, Lutwyche or Mrs. Masham?" said she. What it was that was
either remained indeterminate.

Mr. Norbury set himself to say which, without injustice to anyone
concerned. He dropped his voice to show how unreservedly he was telling
the truth, yet how reluctant he was that his words should be overheard
at the other end of the Castle. "No blame attaches," said he, to clear
the air. "But, if I might make so bold, the arrangement would work more
satisfactory if put upon a footing."

The Countess said:--"You see, Gwen. I told you what it would be." The
Earl exchanged understandings with Norbury, which partly took the form
of inaudible speech. The fact was that Gwen had sprung the old lady on
the household without doing anything towards what Mr. Norbury called
putting matters on a footing.

CHAPTER IV

OLD MEMORIES, AGAIN. THE VOYAGE OUT, FIFTY YEARS SINCE. SAPPS
COURT, AND BREAD-AND-BUTTER SPREAD ON THE LOAF. HOW GWEN CAME INTO
THE DREAM SUDDENLY. HOW THEY READ DAVE'S LETTER, AND MUGGERIDGE WAS
UNDECIPHERABLE. HOW IT WASN'T THE MIDDLE AGES, BUT JEALOUSIES BRED
RUCTIONS. SO GWEN DINED ALONE, BUT WENT BACK. A CONTEMPTIBLE
HOT-WATER BOTTLE. MISS LUTWYCHE'S SKETCH OF THE RUCTIONS, AND HER
MAGNANIMITY. NAPOLEON DE SOUCHY. HIS VANITY. BUT MAISIE AND
PHOEBE REMAINED UNCONSCIOUS, AS WHY SHOULD THEY NOT? INDEED, W