any defects acquired by the Pethertons from such a union will,
I imagine, have been overcome by now.

The Fordyces were apparently a more attractive race in the
eighteenth than in the twentieth century. I can scarcely
imagine a present-day Petherton contracting such a
_mésalliance_.

A direct ancestor of mine, Edward Petherton, as I see by the
Family Bible in my possession, was born in 1699, married in
1728, and lived at Kirkby Lonsdale. His wife's name is not
stated, but I can the more readily believe that he is the
misguided individual to whom you refer, as he died in 1729, no
doubt as the result of his rash act. His son, Primus Postumus
Petherton, born, as his second name suggests, after his
father's death, carried on the line. Any possible virtues or
talents my family may possess are not, I am certain, from the
distaff side of this union.

Yours faithfully,

FREDERICK PETHERTON.

I made a thrust in tierce:--

DEAR COUSIN FRED,--What a mine of information you are! I touch
a spring and out comes Primus Postumus Petherton. The name
conjures up visions of grey church towers, monumental urns
and the eulogies in verse beloved of Georgian poets. I wonder
whether Possy was a great letter-writer and kept poultry.