Glorious, glorious privilege! And how is it earned?
Ah, my friends, you may spare yourselves the useless inquiry! We are the only people who can earn it--for we are the only people who are always right.
In the case of my misguided aunt, the form which pious perseverance was next to take revealed itself to me plainly enough.
Preparation by clerical friends had failed, owing to Lady Verinder's own reluctance.

Preparation by books had failed, owing to the doctor's infidel obstinacy.

So be it! What was the next thing to try?
The next thing to try was--Preparation by Little Notes.

In other words, the books themselves having been sent back, select extracts from the books, copied by different hands, and all addressed as letters to my aunt, were, some to be sent by post, and some to be distributed about the house on the plan I had adopted on the previous day.

As letters they would excite no suspicion; as letters they would be opened--and, once opened, might be read.