He responded with another laugh of good-humour, not of derision, and went to the door.
He shouted another “Good-bye!”
She made no answer. But when he had left the house she tore her newspaper to shreds and snowed them on the carpet at her feet. Then she put her face down to the pillow and wept, but only for a few minutes. She was on her feet again and tugging at the bell-pull.
Her maid was at her side before the bell had ceased to sound.
“Are you sure that ’twas the evening of to-day that was named for the rendezvous you told me of, Williams?” she asked.
“There is no mistake, madam,” replied the woman. “If it were mere gossip, I should never have mentioned it. Lud! if one gave attention to all the gossip that one hears! But this is the truth. The chaise is to wait on the London road, and the young lady is to be brought to it in a chair at nine o’clock. ’Twill then be rather more than dusk.”
“Good!” said Mrs. Abington. “You got the hint from your cousin—I think you said he was your cousin—who is confidential servant to Allen, the postmaster?”
“You will accompany me to the rendezvous on the London road to-night, Williams.”
[page [349].