idge when she saw the model; it makes my head fairly
spin to hear. Only I take this for my comfort, that I can see
behind her words to know the tale is not of her making, but only
Dave, like when she said Dave must have meant Muggeridge in his
last letter, and would I find it to show her, only I could not. And
like when she talked of her old piano at her father's, there I
could see was our old piano my mother bought at a sale, now stood
in a corner here where I had talked of it the evening I had the old
lady here first. I am naming all these things that your ladyship
may see I do right to keep my mother away from Strides till Mrs.
Prichard goes. But I do wish to say again that that day when it
comes will be a sad one for me, for I do love her dearly and that
is the truth, though it is but a week and a day, and Dr. Nash does
not wonder at this."

"If I remember right," said the Earl, stopping, "Nash has made some
study of Insanity--written about it. He knows how very charming lunatics
can be. You know your Great-Aunt Eileen fairly bewitched the Lord
Chancellor when he interviewed her...."

"Did he see the lunatics himself?..."

"When they were fascinating and female--yes!... Well, what happened was
that she waited to be sure he had refused to issue the Commission, and
then went straight for Lady Lostwithiel's throat--her sister-in-law, you
know...."

"Did that show she was mad?"

"Let us keep to the point. What does 'Muggeridge' mean?"

"I was thinking. 'Muggeridge'! But _I've_ got Dave's last letter. I'll
get it." And she was off before the Earl could say that to-morrow would
do as well.

He went on smoking the bitter--and bitten--end of his cigar, which had
gone slowly, owing to the reading. Instead of finishing up the letter,
he went back, carefully re-reading the whole with absorbed attention. So
absorbed, that Gwen, coming in quietly with a fresh handful of letters,
was behind his chair unobserved, and had said:--"Well, and what do you
make of it?" before he looked up at her.

"Verdict in accordance with the medical opinion, I _think_. But let's
see Dave's letter." He took and read to himself. "_I_ see," said he.
"The cross stood for Dolly's love. A mere proxy. But _he_ sends the real
article. I like the 'homliburst,' too. Why did Dolly's lady want to
_towel_ Mrs. Spicture?... Oh, I see, it's the name of our house ...
h'm--h'm--h'm!... Now wh