LADY CUMNOR IN "WIVES AND DAUGHTERS."
Ur0 THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Stu,—Your interesting and friendly review of Mrs. Gaskell's " Wives and Daughters" (Spectator, September 29th) has reminded me that Hollingford, like Cranford, is an alias for Knutsford, and that my wife's old home is in its immediate vicinity. Indeed, my late mother-iu-law, the first Lady Egerton of Tatton, after reading the account of Lady Cumnor's garden-party, remarked that it was a facsimile of those which her own mother-in-law had given to inhabitants of Knutsford. It will be remembered that Molly Gibson lost her way in the garden ; the scene of her mishap can be easily identified by any one familiar with the garden at Tatton. If I venture to insert an anecdote which I published long ago, I will now mention for the first time that it has reference to the lady who was, so to say, officially the original of Lady Cumnor :— " An aged kinswoman of mine expressed dread of being buried in a damp family-vault ; whereupon a privileged butler broke in with the remark, 'Indeed, ma'am, you needn't be the least afraid; I was down there myself the other day, and it's quite dry and comfortable.'" My readers will remember the similar consolation given by Sir Lucius O'Trigger to Bob Acres, who was quaking at the prospect of his duel: "I am told that there is very snug lying in the Abbey."—I am, Sir, &o.,
LIONEL A. TOLLEMACHE.
Atheneum Club, Pall Mall, S.W.
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