Nobody in the Chichester household could quite see what use the maid could be to Sydney on the journey; but, by mother’s orders, she wrote a little note to Lady Frederica, thanking her for taking so much trouble, and saying that she would be ready to go with Mr. Fenton on the day and by the train suggested.
The first copy of that note had two blots upon it, and Sydney had to write it again. Poor little heiress! she quite longed to hear Mildred say, “How careless!” and “When will you grow up, Sydney!” But there were no scoldings now, only a great tenderness from one and all.
Then there was packing to be done, and great discussions whether the frocks which were to have been “let down” next month when Sydney’s hair went up, should be altered now. Would Lady Frederica expect to see Miss Lisle in quite grown-up array, or would skirts to her ankles pass muster?
Sydney took very little interest in the discussion, only, when pressed, gave her voice in favour of leaving them alone. “She hated everything that reminded her of what was going to happen!” she said.
The children took the prospect cheerfully until the very end. Nurse had enlightened them on the grandeur of a title. “Miss Sydney would ride in her own carriage, pretty dear! with powdered footmen on the box, and silver on the harness, and wear satin every day. It would do her old eyes good to see her!”
“You needn’t be such a silly ass about it, Syd,” Freddie had said, after one of nurse’s conversations. “I don’t mind you being a Lady-what-do-you-call-it myself! You’ll keep lots of horses and ponies and merry-go-rounds in your park, and we’ll all come and stay with you and ride ’em!”
“You’ll do nothing of the kind!” Hugh told him, rather savagely, and was not greatly mollified by Freddie’s answer:
“Well, you needn’t! But Syd’s promised to ask me and Prissie, haven’t you, Syd?”
“Oh, I shall want you all!” poor Sydney had cried. “I do hope Lord St. Quentin will be kind, and ask you all to come and stay soon, very soon!”
“No chance of that!” Hugh had muttered beneath his breath; and then had put his arm round Sydney, calling himself “a beast to make her cry, and, of course, they would meet again, yes, very soon indeed!”