“Of course, ma'am, but he's not here.”
“Where is he, then?” asked she, eagerly.
“He's gone, ma'am; he went last night.”
“Gone! gone where?” said Mrs. Kennyfeck, with an eagerness no artifice could cover.
“It's hard to say, ma'am; but he went down to Kingstown last night, and sailed in the yacht; and from the preparations and sea stores taken from the hotel, it would seem like a long cruise.”
“And did he not mention anything of his intention to you Mr. Phillis?” said Mrs. Kennyfeck, with a flattering emphasis on the pronoun.
“A few lines in pencil, ma'am, dated from the harbor, was all I received. Here they are.” And he handed a piece of note-paper across the table. The contents ran thus:—
Phillis, send word to Sir Harvey Upton's that I sha'n't dine
there to-morrow. Give the bearer of this my dressing-case,
and clothes for some days, and have the fourgon ready packed
to start for Tubbermore on receiving my next orders.
R. C.—Kingstown Harbor.
“And who brought this note?” said Mrs. Kennyfeck, who fancied she was conducting the inquiry in true judicial form.
“One of the yacht sailors, ma'am; he came up on Lord Kilgoff s carriage.”