“Then you elect to follow my fortunes?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“You understand, I hope, that I shall not allow you to presume upon my position, Phœbe?”
“I don’t think you will find that I shall ever try to do so, my lady,” answered the girl, with simple dignity. “If I am no worse treated than I have been thus far, I shall have nothing to complain of; and at any time that anything in my manner or conduct displeases your ladyship, you have only to speak, and I will endeavor to alter it.”
Lady Gwendolyn held out her hand to the faithful creature. She was desolate enough to feel thankful even for a humble friend like this; and the best service is that which is dictated by affection as well as by duty.
That afternoon Lady Gwendolyn had a confidential interview with her solicitor, Mr. Large; gave him a power-of-attorney to receive her dividends, and then, accompanied by Phœbe, she left town.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A PAINFUL SURPRISE.
Several of Sir Lawrence’s—as we must call him now—new neighbors had attended the funeral, and his pleasant but subdued manner impressed them so favorably that they were ready to give him and his wife a cordial greeting when they came to live among them.
“We always felt for your uncle,” said old Lord Milworth, as he shook the young baronet heartily by the hand; “but, you see, he lived such a secluded life that we did not know him well enough to miss him. But you and your beautiful wife will be great acquisitions, Sir Lawrence, and I hope we shall shortly have the pleasure of welcoming you to Loamshire.”