“Pina, you hurt me when you speak in that way of Lenny’s father.” (A less gentle spirit would have said to her servant “you offend me.” But Drusilla had much more tenderness than dignity in her nature and manners.)
“I am sorry, ma’am. Indeed, ma’am, I would rather bite off the end of my tongue than let it say anything to hurt you,” replied Pina.
“Now notice then, my good girl. It may happen that you may see Mr. Lyon some time when you are out with little Lenny. If you should, you must not avoid him. On the contrary, take the child to him. It will be good to promote affection between the child and his father.”
“I will do as you say, ma’am.”
Drusilla then went into the parlor to join her friends at dinner. But she said nothing of Lenny’s adventure.
“This evening,” said General Lyon, “we go to old classic Drury Lane. And to-morrow for the Derby.”
Drusilla’s heart beat—but her only, or at least her chief object in going to the Derby was not to see the great race, but to see perhaps—her beloved husband.
CHAPTER XV.
THE DERBY.
I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will abide the hazard of the die—Shakespeare.