THEOPHILUS B. PIPER-CARY.

P.S.--Don't forget there's a cow in the background; a red cow.

Three days later I received a picture (not mine) from the Gallery with
this letter:--

DEAR SIR,--After a most exhaustive search we have found and send
herewith what we believe to be your picture, though it does not
quite answer to your description. It is, however, the only one of
which we do not appear to have any record.

Our Mr. Langford seems likely to be abroad for some months, so
unless you will accept this picture in settlement of the matter we
do not see any present way out of the difficulty.

Confident that, if it is not yours, it is at least just as good,
we trust that you will agree to cry quits.

We are, Yours obediently,

_pp._ THE FERNDALE GALLERY.

J.S.

Why they should feel sure it was just as good, unless they remembered
my picture, wasn't very clear, but evidently the receipt had put the
wind up them, and I wrote and accepted the substitute at once, because
Panmore liked it better even than the original picture. He said it was