And my lady toyed with her ring, and looked languidly indifferent, although a keen observer might have noticed that she stopped her very breath to listen for Mary’s answer.
“My lord is away, ma’am; but I heard this morning that Colonel Dacre was at the Hall.”
“And his wife, too, I presume?”
“No; she isn’t there.”
“Surely. They haven’t been very long married, you know.”
“Long enough to get tired of each other, ma’am, perhaps.”
“It is to be hoped not. But are you sure Colonel Dacre is here, Mary?”
“Quite sure, ma’am, for I saw him with my own eyes last night.”
“But I thought he had come into a title lately, Mary?”
“So he has, ma’am, begging his pardon. It’s Sir Lawrence he is called now, for I heard master tell the waiter so. However, whatever he is called, I saw him last night.”