When the dusk rose, however, and the candles were brought in by the round-eyed handmaid, whose ministrations replaced those of Megrim (the latter was still packing, and seemed like to take some weeks in the process), and the said round-eyed damsel immediately began to inform her mistress that Sir Jasper had set forth in his coach, Lady Standish's small flame of courage began to flicker woefully.
"Alone?" she asked in white dismay.
"Please, my lady, Mr. Bowles was driving, and there was Mr. Thomas behind, my lady."
"Pshaw, girl! Did Sir Jasper take any luggage?"
"Oh yes, my lady; there was his yellow bag, Mr. Toombs says, and a small wooden case."
"Heavens!" cried Lady Standish, with increasing alarm. "And whither went they?"
"Please, my lady, Mr. Toombs says they took the London Road."
Fain would the round-eyed maid have lingered and told more, but Lady Standish waved her hand faintly, and so dismissed her.
An hour later, Lydia, brisk with importance, and sparkling with conscious power, found the much-tried soul sunk in a sort of apathetic weariness of misery.
"Mistress Bellairs' love, my lady, and will you read this letter at once?"