ALTHOUGH Dick pretended an utter disbelief in Grey’s prophecy, it really came true; and the Reform Bill passed the House of Lords on the last day of May. Then the Annis family were in haste to return home. The feeling of being on a pleasure visit was all past and gone, and the bare certainties and perplexities of life confronted them. For the first time in all his days, the squire felt anxious about money matters, and actually realized that he was going to be scrimped in coin for his household expenses. This fact shocked him, he could hardly believe it. Annie, however, knew nothing of this dilemma and when her husband spoke of an immediate return home, said:
“I am glad we are going home. To-morrow, I will see my dressmaker and finish my shopping;” and the squire looked at her with such anxious eyes that she immediately added—“unless, Antony, thou would like me to pack my trunks at once.”
“I would like that, Annie. It would help me above a bit.”
“All right. Kitty is ready to start at any hour. She wants to go home.”
“What is the matter with Kitty? She isn’t like hersen lately? Is she sick?”
“I think there is a little falling out between Harry and her. That is common enough in all love affairs.”
Here a servant entered with a letter and gave it to the squire. He looked at it a moment and then said to his wife—“It is from Josepha. She wants to see me varry particular, and hopes I will come to her at once. She thinks I had better drop in for dinner and says she will wait for me until half-past five.”
“That is just like her unreasonableness. If she knows the Bill is passed, she must know also that we are packing, and as busy as we can be.”
“Perhaps she does not know that the great event has happened.”
“That is nonsense. Half a dozen people would send her word, or run with the news themselves.”