"Don't chaff me, dear Miss Vernon; I can't stand it just now."
"Fact is," said Blanche, with cunning effrontery, "I wanted some gay fixings for the ball, so I took the rail to London, got 'em, stayed all night with the Claytons, and am bringing back to Mrs. Haughton her dear little Sir Tilton."
"Why, we met Mr. Clayton, and he says they are staying at Oak Hall at the Lord Eltons," exclaimed Vaura amusedly, and to see how Blanche would extricate herself.
"See you know too much; but don't say anything, for here is the trap, with the Colonel inside, I suppose, and he's too awfully too, I'll tell you later on; Mrs. Haughton don't do all the tricks."
"But should you have been missed, what then?"
"Oh, that's too easy, Miss Vernon; I've been too awfully busy with my maid; headache, anything that comes first."
"A pupil of Madame would naturally learn how to shuffle the cards," said Lady Esmondet, a trifle cynically, and, sotto voce, "I am too awfully sleepy to take you in, Lady Esmondet," said Blanche, yawning.
A covered carriage with two servants, drives to the steps; the Colonel is not inside; leaving one man to look after their maids and belongings, they enter, and are soon on the well known road.
"I wonder my uncle did not meet us; especially as he must have received our telegram."
"Surely he is not ill! How was he when you left the Hall, Miss
Tompkins?" inquired Lady Esmondet.