"Do not say that, mamma; it seems so hard upon the child."
"It will be true, my dear," said her grace, calmly. "What has become of her, I wonder? I have not heard anything of her lately."
The duke smiled.
"One part of your prophecy has come true; she was tired of Brackenside, and has gone abroad."
"Gone abroad?" repeated her grace.
It was the calm, sweet voice of Lady Estelle that replied:
"She has gone as governess to some little children, mamma; surely that was a sensible thing to do."
The duchess looked up in surprise at the unwonted interest in Lady Estelle's voice.
"It is so sensible, Estelle, that I am disposed to alter my opinion of her; she has more sense and less vanity than I gave her credit for. I am much pleased to hear it. But surely you or some one else told me she was going to be married."
"She told me so herself," replied Lady Estelle, "on the day she came here; she was going to marry a gentleman and a poet."