riar's frequent attempts at correction. When he
exhibited his Identical Notes to the Powers for their sanction and
approval, this was pointed out to him, and an allegation that he was
acting up to previous instructions disallowed _nem. con._ He endeavoured
to lay to heart that for the future _cistern_ was to be spelt _sister_,
except out on the leads. A holographic adjustment of the _c_, and
erasure of the _n_, was scarcely a great success, but the Powers
supposed it would do. Uncle Mo opposed Aunt M'riar's suggestion that the
two letters should go in one cover to Strides Cottage, for economy, as
mean-spirited and parsimonious, although he had quite understood that
the two Grannies were under one roof; otherwise Dave would have directed
to Mrs. Picture at the Towers. So to Strides Cottage they went, some
three days later.

CHAPTER XIV

HOW THE COUNTESS AND HER DAUGHTER WENT BACK TO THE TOWERS, AND GWEN
READ HER LETTERS IN THE TRAIN. THE TORPEYS, THE RECTOR, AND THE
BISHOP. HOW THE COUNTESS SHUT HER EYES, AND GWEN HARANGUED. WHO WAS
LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS? THE UP-EXPRESS, AND ITS VIRUS. HOW GWEN
RESOLVED TO RUSH THE POSITION. AT STRIDES COTTAGE. HOW GWEN BECAME
MORE AND MORE ALIVE TO HER DIFFICULTIES. HOW SHE WENT TO SEE DR.
NASH. HIS INCREDULITY. AND HIS CONVERSION. HOW HE WOULD SEE GRANNY
MARRABLE, BY ALL MEANS. BUT! HOWEVER, BY GOOD LUCK, MUGGERIDGE HAD
FORGOTTEN HIS MARRIAGE VOWS, HALF A CENTURY AGO AND MORE

It was written in the Book of Fate, and printed in the _Morning Post_,
that the Countess of Ancester was leaving for Rocestershire, and would
remain over Christmas. After which she would probably pay a visit to her
daughter, Lady Philippa Brandon, at Vienna. The Earl would join her at
the Towers after a short stay at Bath, according to his lordship's
annual custom. The _Post_ did not commit itself as to his lordship's
future movements, because Fate had not allowed the Editor to look in her
Book.

And the Countess herself seemed to know no more than the _Post_. For
when her daughter, in the railway-carriage on the way to the Towers,
looked up from a letter she was reading over and over again, to say:--"I
suppose it's no use trying to persuade papa to come to Vienna, after
all?" her mother's answer was:--"You can try, my dear. _You_ may have
some influence with him. _I_ have none. I suppose when we're gone,
he'll just get wrapped up in his fiddles and books an