Entertainment followed entertainment; now it was the poor, now it was the rich, whom she fed and feted. The crown of her popularity came perhaps when she declared that she would have no London house and wanted no London season. Catsford and the county were good enough for her. The _Catsford Herald and Times_ printed an article on this subject which was almost lyrical in its anticipation of a return of the good old days when the aristocracy found their own town enough. It was headed "Catsford a Metropolis--Why not?" And it was Jenny who was to imbue the borough with this enviable metropolitan character! This was _Redeunt Saturnia regna_ with a vengeance! To all outward appearance she was behaving admirably--and her acquaintance with Fillingford had reached to as near intimacy as it was ever likely to get while it rested on a basis of mere neighborly friendship. Lady Sarah had been convinced or vanquished--it was impossible to say which. At any rate she had withdrawn her opposition to intercourse between the two houses and appeared to contemplate with resignation, if not with enthusiasm, a prospect of which people had now begun to talk--not always under their breath. Fillingford Manor and Breysgate were now united closely enough for folk to ask whether they were to be united more closely still. For my own part I must admit that, if Lord Fillingford were wooing, he showed few of the usual signs; but perhaps Jenny was! I remembered the story of Rabbit--without forgetting the subject of the other nickname! Old Cartmell was a great advocate of the Fillingford alliance. House laid to house and field to field were anathema to the Prophet; for a family lawyer they have a wonderful attraction. An estate well-rounded off, spacious, secure from encroachment and, with proper capital outlay, returning three per cent.--he admires it as the rest of us a Velasquez--well, some of us--or others, a thoroughbred. Careful man as he was, he declined to be dismayed at Jenny's growing expenditure. "The income's growing, too," he said. "It grows and must grow with the borough. Old Nick Driver had a very long head! She can't help becoming richer, whatever she does--in reason." He winked at me, adding, "After all, it isn't as if she had to buy Fillingford, is it?" I did not feel quite sure that it was not--and at a high price; but to say that would have been to travel into another sphere of discussion. "Well, I'm very glad her affairs are so flourishing. But I wish the new liveries weren't so nearly sky-blue. I hope she won't want to put you and me in them!" Cartmell paid no heed to the liveries. He took a puff at his cigar and said, "Now--if only she'll keep straight!" That would have seemed an odd thing to say--to anyone not near her. Yet trouble came--most awkwardly and at a most awkward moment. Octon himself was the cause of it, and I--unluckily for myself--the only independent witness of the central incident.