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Chapter 25
Sir Roger Dies

Omnipresent and omniscient information
"Omnipresent" and "omniscient" are words often used in describing ruling divinities, in this case recalling the all-powerful, all-knowing nature of the Jupiter, the newspaper named after the Roman king of the gods.  [JM]

Habit is second nature
Attributed to Diogenes by Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and  Fable.  Sir Roger is belligerently arguing that his habit of drinking is now second nature, and thus he will die without alcohol; Dr. Thorne concedes and gives him brandy to drink. http://www.bartleby.com/81/7797.html  [JM]

Chapter 26
War

Gordian knot
When Mary is told she cannot see the Greshams because of Frank's feelings for her, Mary believes that the situation is a "Gordion knot not to be cut."  The Gordian knot was a knot tied by the King of Phrygia.  He became king after an oracle proclaimed that the man driving the wagon that next entered the square should be king.  He placed his wagon outside the temple of Zeus and tied the yoke to the wagon tightly so that it was impossible to untie it.  Eventually the legend developed that the one who untie it would conquer Asia.  When Alexander the Great approached the knot he choose to cut through it instead of untying it.  He thereby proved that he would become ruler of Asia.  Whereas Alexander could simply cut his knot Mary has no easy way to untie her problems.  In this sense a Gordion knot is a perplexing conundrum for which Mary has no ready solution. Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology  [TH]

Fortune favors the brave
When Lady Arabella visits Dr. Thorne to discuss her concerns about Mary and her son she is initially surprised by the vehemence of Dr. Thorne's reaction.  However, "she soon recovered herself, remembering, doubtless, that fortune favours none but the brave."  This is a quotation from Vergil's Aeneid Book 10 line 284:  audentis Fortuna iuvat.  These words were spoken by Turnus to his men in the hope of encouraging them before a battle with Aeneas.  Here they are not used in the context of a true battle but rather a verbal sparring match between Lady Arabella and Dr. Thorne.  [TH]

Chapter 27
Miss Thorne Goes on a Visit

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