“Well, I shall miss you frightfully. Living opposite to you has been as interesting as a tale in The Family Reader or Bow Bells. What with your coming so poor and lowly, and then knowing Lady Hildegarde, and turning the heads of hundreds at the Moate ball—oh, I heard all about it—and then being left desolate, and scorned, and, lastly, being fetched away by a lord, your own uncle—why, it’s most—most awfully affecting!” and she actually was so excited and upset that she began to cry.
In the midst of her sobs, my uncle reappeared, followed by a fly from the station. He gazed in puzzled bewilderment at Miss Skuce, who gasped out in jerky sentences—
“So sorry—to part—with this dear sweet girl—Lord Chalgrove. I am her oldest friend, too—as she will tell you. Known her—known her since she first came—a—stranger to Stonebrook.”
“I am sure I am greatly obliged to you, ma’am. A kindness to my niece is a double kindness to me.”
“Then,” hastily drying her eyes, “will you do me a favor, and allow me to come and see her off, your lordship?”
“Certainly; only too delighted,” handing her into the fly: Mrs. Gabb and family, Mrs. Mound and family, being assembled, and spectators of this most proud moment!
Then I took leave of them all, and of that dingy little house, where I had known many sorrows and but few joys; and was rattled off to the station at a great pace—my uncle being engaged all the time in listening to Miss Skuce’s voluble regrets.
It was a new experience to me to be waited upon; my uncle took all trouble off my hands. Whilst he was getting the tickets, I noticed the Abbey carriage drive up; it contained Lady Hildegarde and Lady Polexfen—who was evidently going away. They seemed surprised to see Lord Chalgrove, and accosted him warmly. He said something in reply, and then both ladies turned and looked hard at me; but there was no time for further conversation, for our train was entering the station.
As my uncle joined me with tickets and newspapers, I said in a low voice, “Not in the same carriage with Lady Polexfen, please—please!”