“That in a few days she shall be able to answer me.”
“Ah, well! Do you know there is a belief in the parish that something has happened—that a claim is to be set up to the whole property, and that the whole family will be reduced to beggary?”
“I never heard of an estate to which there was not some claimant in obscurity.”
“But this comes from undoubted authority.” Mr. Parsons smiled a little. “One can’t help it if servants will hear things. Well! any way it will be overruled for good to that dear boy—though it would be a cruel stroke on the parish.”
It was the twilight of a late spring evening when the congregation streamed out of Church, and Elvira, who had managed hitherto to avoid all intercourse with the River Hollow party, found herself grappled by Lisette without hope of rescue. “My dear, this is a pleasure at last; I have so much to say to you. Can’t you give us a day?”
“I am going to town to-morrow,” said Elvira, never gracious to any Gould.
“To-morrow! I heard the family had put off their migration.”
“I go with Lucas. I am to stay with Mrs. Evelyn, Lord Fordham’s mother, you know, who is to present me at the Drawing-room,” said Elvira, magnificently.
“Oh! if I could only see you in your court dress it would be memorable,” cried Mrs. Gould. “A little longer, my dear, our paths lie together.”
“I must get home. My packing—”