On which valedictory utterance he dismissed his visitors, with the parting adjuration to make speedy preparations for their journey, because he had been put to enough expense already without having to provide dinner for Freddy that day.
Once out of earshot, Kitty clasped Freddy’s arm, and said, in a rush of gratitude: “Oh, Freddy, how can I thank you sufficiently? I hope you may not dislike it excessively!”
“No, no!” said Freddy, always the soul of courtesy. “Thing was, thought it was time to give the old hunks the go-by! Never met such a cheese-paring fellow in all my life!”
Chapter VI
Since Miss Charing’s wardrobe was not extensive, the task of packing it was speedily accomplished, and it was not long after noon when the betrothed pair set forward upon the journey to London. Miss Charing’s almost dizzy delight at having so easily won her guardian’s consent to the visit was marred only by her fear that her hostess might not feel an equal degree of pleasure at the treat in store; and by the lachrymose conduct of Miss Fishguard, who wept without restraint while she helped her charge to pack, and asserted that she did not know what was to become of her, or how she was to look after Mr. Penicuik to his satisfaction. It did not console her to be reminded that no one had ever succeeded in doing this; and the prospect of being separated from Kitty for a month so wrought upon her sensibility that she suddenly declaimed, between sobs: “‘For all that pleased in wood or lawn, While peace possessed these silent bowers, Her animating smile withdrawn, Has lost its beauty and its powers!’”
Kitty, always of a more practical turn of mind than her governess, wrinkled her brow at this, and said: “Well, but it is so horridly damp and cold at this season that the woods and lawns don’t please at all, Fish! And peace cannot possess Arnside when Uncle Matthew’s gout is so painful!”
“Sometimes, Kitty,” said Miss Fishguard tragically, “I wonder at you! Is ‘the pang which parts us from our weeping friends’ unknown to you?”
This reproach made Kitty feel so guilty that for the first stage of the journey her spirits were subdued, and she replied in monosyllables to such remarks as her companion addressed to her.
“Not feeling quite the thing?” enquired Freddy kindly.
“Oh, yes, but I feel a wretch, Freddy!” she confided. “Poor Fish asked me if I did not feel a pang at parting from her, and I do not!”