‘How should I know, father?’ she said tremblingly. ‘I haven’t been near Mrs Hody for the last week. Is it the prince whom they expected?’
‘The prince, be d—d!’ exclaimed the farmer. ‘What’s the value of a foreign prince beside one of our own English noblemen? I wouldn’t give you that for the prince,’ snapping his fingers. ‘No; it is somebody much better and higher. It’s your old master, the Earl of Ilfracombe, and his lady. What do you think of that?’
‘The Earl of Ilfracombe!’ echoed Nell, in order to gain time. ‘But who told you, father?’
‘Jackson, the coachman, to be sure, who drove them both home from the railway station, and who should know better than he? He says the earl is a fine-looking young man, as fair as daylight, and his lady is a nice, pretty creature too. I thought I should surprise you, Nell. You’ll be wanting to go up to the Hall to see ’em both, now, won’t you?’
‘Oh, father, why should I go to see them? His lordship won’t want to see me. Most likely he’s forgotten my very name.’
‘Well, Nell, I am surprised to hear you talk so!’ exclaimed her mother. ‘It don’t look as if you knew much about the gentry, who are always glad to see servants as have behaved themselves whilst in their service. But perhaps you’re afraid the earl is annoyed with you for leaving him so suddenly, and just as he was bringing home his bride. Is that it?’
‘Perhaps so, mother,’ said the girl, looking very much confused.
‘Ah, I was always doubtful if there wasn’t something queer about your coming back so suddenly, and so I’ve told your mother,’ remarked Mr Llewellyn dubiously. ‘But if it was so, why, you must go over to the Hall to-morrow morning and ask his lordship’s pardon; and perhaps mother, here, can find some little thing as you could take up as an offering for his lady. Can you, mother?’
‘Oh, I daresay,’ replied Mrs Llewellyn, ‘she might fancy a pen of our Minorca fowls or Cochins. I suppose they’ve a fine farm down at Thistlemere, Nell?’
‘Yes, I suppose so. But, mother, I cannot go and see them, or take Lady Ilfracombe any presents. It will seem like intrusion. They’ve not asked to see me, and I’m only a discharged servant, after all.’