And then she turned into the house to face the howling Luce.
“What on earth ails the woman?” demanded the housekeeper.
“Oh! dey’s gone ag’in!—dey’s gone ag’in! An’ dis time dey’s gone across de ocean! I shall nebber see ’em ag’in!—nebber no mo’!—nebber no mo’!” sobbed Lucy, sitting flat on the hall floor, and rocking her body back and forth.
“Oh, yes you will. Don’t be a fool! Get up and go to work. Work’s the best cure for trouble. Indeed, work’s the best cure for most things—poverty, for instance.”
“It didn’t use to be so! It didn’t use to be so!” said Luce, continuing to rock herself. “Dey nebber use to go ’way from year’s end to year’s end! But now it’s got to be a habit dey gibs deirselbes—a berry habit dey gibs deirselbes!”
CHAPTER XXVIII
FORBIDDEN LOVE
The three carriages conveying the large party from the old manor house rolled on through the familiar woods, so often traversed by the young people of the household in going to and fro between Mondreer and Greenbushes.
In the foremost carriage rode Mr. and Mrs. Force, Wynnette and Elva.
In the second, Odalite and Le.
In the third, Dickon and Gipsy, the valet and lady’s maid, in charge of all the lighter luggage.