“Oh, yes, sir!” replied Lucy, bobbing a curtsey. “For I wouldn’t be left to face the Major, not for ever so!”
“You had best go back to the house with all possible speed,” Piers said, applying a wafer to the folded letter, and handing it to her. “Mind, now! that letter must not fall into the wrong hands!”
“If anyone tries to take it from you, you must swallow it,” put in Pen.
“Swallow it, sir?”
’Pay no heed to my friend!” said Piers hastily. There! Be off with you, and remember that I depend upon your fidelity!”
Lucy curtseyed herself out of the room. Piers looked at Pen, still hugging her knees on the window-seat, and said severely: “I suppose you flatter yourself you have been helpful!”
Impish lights danced in her eyes. “Oh, I have! Only think if you had had to turn back to fetch the love-birds, which very likely you would have had to do if I had not reminded the abigail about them!”
He could not help grinning. “Pen, if she does bring them, I’ll—I’ll turn back just to wring your neck! Now I must go to arrange for the hire of a chaise, and four fast horses.”
“Where will you find them?” she asked.
“There is a posting-house at Keynsham where they keep very tolerable cattle. I shall drive over there immediately.”