“No, I mayn’t,” he said, wiping his pallid countenance with a crumpled handkerchief. “Afraid she’ll come after me!” “Well, she will do no such thing, my dear, because there’s no reason why she should.”
His lordship looked at her with terror in his eye. “Got Finglass with me!” he uttered. “Spies on me! Didn’t dare say I wouldn’t have him. Thought she might suspect.”
“And a very good thing too,” said the redoubtable Miss Plymstock calmly. “I’d just as lief he was under my eye, for he can’t work any mischief if we keep him with us.”
“Yes, and you may employ him afterwards to carry the news that you are married back to your Mama,” interpolated Kitty encouragingly. “You must not be afraid of him, Dolph, for although he may spy on you, he cannot do anything, you know. He is obliged to obey your orders; and now that you have escaped from your Mama you do not care what tales he may carry to her.”
He looked doubtful, but Hannah told him that Kitty was quite right, and he seemed to accept this assurance, and to become less agitated. But just then Meg’s voice was heard, and Kitty was obliged to remind him hastily that Meg was not in the secret, which threw him back into disorder. Fortunately, Meg thought him at all times so very odd that she was unlikely, Kitty hoped, to notice any additional peculiarity in his bearing.
She entered the room, shook hands with Miss Plymstock, and civilly invited her to partake of a little refreshment before setting out on the journey.
“Like to start now!” said Dolphinton, in a hoarse whisper, and plucking at Kitty’s sleeve.
“My dear Dolph, there can be no need of such haste!” said Meg. “I daresay it will not take you above two hours to reach Arnside.”
This made him look so anguished that Kitty made haste to say that she particularly desired to reach Arnside in good time. “Because Uncle Matthew shuts himself up in his bookroom all the afternoon, and so I shall be able to enjoy a comfortable talk with Fish,” she explained.
“I shan’t have to see Uncle Matthew, shall I?” said Dolphinton, a fresh terror raising its head.