convalescent, Toby. She also travelled by the
carrier's cart, accepting the hospitality of her cousin for the night,
and returning next day with Toby. Granny Marrable was not going to be
left alone at the cottage, as she was bidden to spend a day or two with
her granddaughter, or more strictly grandniece, Maisie Costrell, to make
up for her inability, owing to a bad cold six weeks since, to accompany
Widow Thrale to the first celebration of the birthday of the latter's
grandchild, at whose entry into the world you may remember the old lady
was officiating when Dave visited Strides Cottage a year ago.

Said she, parting at the door from Widow Thrale:--"You'll keep it in
mind what I said, Ruth."

Said Ruth, in reply,--"Touching the two yards of calico, or young Davy's
London Granny?" For she had more than one mission to Keziah.

"If you name her so, child." This rather stiffly. "Anywise, her young
ladyship's old soul that come in the carriage. 'Tis small concern of
mine or none at all to be asking. But I would be the easier to be
assured that all went well with her, looking so dazed as she did. At her
time of life too! More like than not Keziah will be for taking you over
to the Castle, and maybe you'll see Mrs.--Picture...."

"Picture's not her real name, only young Davy he's made it for her."

"Well, child, 'tis the same person bears it, whatever the name be! Maybe
you'll see Mrs. Picture, and maybe she'll have something to tell of
little Davy. I would have made some inquiry of him from her myself, but
the time was not to spare." This Granny had not been at all disposed to
admit that another Granny could give her any information about Dave. But
curiosity rankled, and inquiry through an agent was another matter.

"Lawsey me, mother," said Widow Thrale. "I'll get Keziah to take me
round, and I'll get some gossip with the old soul. I'll warrant she
hasn't lost her tongue, even be she old as Parson Dunage's mother at the
Rectory. Good-bye, mother dear! Take care of yourself on the road to
Maisie's. Put on Sister Nora's fur tippet in the open cart, for the wind
blows cold at sundown." Granny Marrable disallowed the fur tippet, with
some scorn for the luxury of the Age.

If Brantock the carrier, who drove away with Widow Thrale, promising
that she should be in time for sooper at Soalmes's, and a bit thrown in,
had been told whose mother she would speak with next day, and when she
saw her last, he would probably have sa