“Oh, no, grandpa! We must go to Windsor to-morrow; and I’ll tell you why. It will take a whole day and night to go to Windsor, see it all, and return. And to-morrow is the only whole day we have at our disposal. For on Thursday we are engaged to dinner at Lord Esteppe’s, and to a concert at Mrs. Marcourt’s. On Friday we are to breakfast with the Warrens and to go to a ball at our Minister’s; and on Saturday we are promised to the Whartons for their fête at Richmond. Now out of either of these days we might take a few hours to see any London sights; but for Windsor we must have an unbroken day, and to-morrow is the only one of this week, or of next week either for that matter, left at our disposal.”
“That is very true, my dear. Bless my soul, how we are crowded with engagements! It is very flattering, of course, and very pleasant, I suppose; but—it is just a little harassing also. Dick, have you ordered a barouche?”
“No, sir; but I have finished breakfast, and if you will excuse me I will go and do so now; or, rather, I mean I will walk around to the livery stable and choose a good one myself,” answered Mr. Hammond, rising from the table and leaving the room.
With an excuse for her absence, Anna followed him.
As the General was still toying with his breakfast, Drusilla lingered to keep him company.
The waiter had retired and the two were alone, a circumstance so unusual, and so unlikely to happen again, that Drusilla thought this to be her best opportunity for consulting him upon the difficulty that now perplexed her mind.
So while the old gentleman sat trifling with a delicate section of his fried sole, Drusilla abruptly entered upon the subject:
“Uncle, we are all invited to a great many places; and we have accepted all the invitations. But before I go to any party I would like to have a talk with you.”
“Well, my dear, talk away! what is it about?” inquired the old man, somewhat surprised by the gravity of her manner.
“Uncle, is it quite right that I, a forsaken wife, should go so much into the world?”