‘In London, I should think,’ said Emily. ‘Some one said Miss Aylmer was gone out as a governess.’
‘Indeed! I wish I could hear more! Poor Mr. Aylmer! He was the first man who tried to teach me Latin. I wonder what has become of that mad fellow Edward, and Devereux, my father’s godson! Was not Mrs. Aylmer badly off? I cannot bear that people should be forgotten!’
‘It is not so very long that we have lost sight of them,’ said Emily.
‘Eight years,’ said Lord Rotherwood. ‘He died six weeks after my father. Well! I have made my mother promise to come home.’
‘Really?’ said Lilias, ‘she has been coming so often.’
‘Aye—but she is coming this time. She is to spend the winter at the castle, and make acquaintance with all the neighbourhood.’
‘His lordship is romancing,’ said Claude to Lily in a confidential tone.
‘I’ll punish you for suspecting me of talking hyperborean language—hyperbolical, I mean,’ cried Lord Rotherwood; ‘I’ll make you dance the Polka with all the beauty and fashion.’
‘Then I shall stay at Oxford till it is over,’ said Claude.
‘You do not know what a treasure you will be,’ said the Marquis, ‘ladies like nothing so well as dancing with a fellow twice the height he should be.’