“Very much indeed. She has looked much worse, but is now improving fast. Her life was in the greatest danger.”
“So I heard.”
“I hope Lord and Lady Stratford de Redcliffe are well.”
“Yes. I had the pleasure of dining with them at Therapia last Sunday: they inquired after you.”
“I am very happy to hear it, and shall soon pay my respects to them. I much regretted not being in the Crimea during their visit. The Caradoc left Balaklava the day the Robert Lowe left Constantinople; we therefore passed at sea.”
“So I heard. The young ladies were very much pleased with their trip; but Lady Paget remained there. I suppose you saw her?”
“Yes, I did. Her ladyship was staying on board the Star of the South. I called several times, but at last met her ladyship in the camp, driving out in a species of vehicle, and accompanied by Lord Paget on horseback, to whom I had the honour of being introduced by her ladyship. She really looked so pretty, and her equipage was so bad, that a Canova would have sculptured her as a Venus in a wheelbarrow, instead of in a shell.”
“Well, I must say, that would be a new, and, no doubt, an interesting subject. By the bye, we shall shortly have a visit from the Duke of Newcastle. I hope you will be here.”—“Indeed!”
“Yes, I expect him in seven or eight days.”
“I hope his grace will do me the honour of visiting my sanctorum.”