on this side, the 'Towers' at the front. He saw his patient, gave his
directions to the housekeeper, and then went out, with a rare wild-
flower in his hand, to find one of the ladies Tranmere in the garden,
where, according to his hope and calculation, he came upon Lady Cumnor
too--now talking to her daughter about the contents of an open letter
which she held in her hand, now directing a gardener about certain
bedding-out plants.

'I was calling to see Nanny, and I took the opportunity of bringing
Lady Agnes the plant I was telling her about as growing on Cumnor
Moss.'

'Thank you so much, Mr. Gibson. Mamma, look! this is the _Drosera
rotundifolia_ I have been wanting so long.'

'Ah! yes; very pretty I daresay, only I am no botanist. Nanny is
better, I hope? We can't have any one laid up next week, for the house
will be quite full of people--and here are the Danbys waiting to offer
themselves as well. One comes down for a fortnight of quiet, at
Whitsuntide, and leaves half one's establishment in town, and as soon
as people know of our being here, we get letters without end, longing
for a breath of country air, or saying how lovely the Towers must look
in spring; and I must own, Lord Cumnor is a great deal to blame for it
all, for as soon as ever we are down here, he rides about to all the
neighbours, and invites them to come over and spend a few days.'

'We shall go back to town on Friday the 18th,' said Lady Agnes, in a
consolatory tone.

'Ah, yes! as soon as we have got over the school visitors' affair. But