“If you don’t hold your tongue, Pen—!”
“No little lap-dog either?” Pen asked incredulously.
“No, sir, “deed, no! There’s only her love-birds, the pretty things, and her doves!”
“Well, you will not have room in the chaise for a dovecot, but you should certainly bring the love-birds,” said Pen, with an irrepressible chuckle.
Piers flung down his pen. “Another word from you, and I’ll put you out of the room!”
“No, you won’t, because this is a private parlour, and you are nothing but a guest in it.”
“But will I tell Miss to bring the love-birds?” asked Lucy, puzzled.,
“No!” said Piers. “Oh, do stop, Pen! You are driving me distracted! Listen, I have told Lydia that I will have a chaise waiting in the lane behind the house at midnight. Do you think that is too early? Will her parents go to her room as late as that?”
“No, sir, that they won’t!” said Lucy. “The Major does be such a one for retiring early! He’ll be in bed and asleep by eleven, take my word for it, sir!”
“Fortunately, it is moonlight,” Piers said, shaking sand over his letter. “Listen, Lucy! I depend upon you to see that your mistress goes early to bed; she must get what sleep she can! And you must wake her at the proper time, do you understand? Can I trust you to pack for her, and to bring her safely to me?”