"Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. Barold."
"Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days."
"Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do with it as Mr. Burmistone."
"I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's class securing the services of persons of established position in society when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to be made a party to such a transaction."
"But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. Burmistone is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, and came off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this entertainment in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne."
"Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly.
"Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll."
"Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with ironic calmness.
Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly.
"I—that is to say—there is a sort of acquaintance between one of my maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said."