“You will go with Lady Harriet, and be a good girl, while I try to find Mr. Mudgley.”
Belinda’s tears ceased to flow. She looked very much awed, and asked “Is she a lady, sir?”
“Of course she is a— Oh, I see! Yes, she is Lady Harriet Presteigne, and she will be very kind to you, and if you do as she bids you she will not let Mrs. Pilling send you to prison. And what is more,” he added, perceiving that she still seemed unconvinced, “she is going to fetch you in a very genteel carriage! In fact, a lozenge-carriage!”
“What is that?” asked Belinda.
“The crest on the panel—a widow’s crest.”
“I shall drive in a carriage with a crest on the panel?” Belinda said, gazing at him incredulously.
“Yes, indeed you will,” he assured her.
Tom gave a guffaw. “Stupid thing! He’s bamming you!”
Her face fell. The Duke said: “No, I am not. Tom, if you cannot be quiet, go away!”
“Well, I shall. I shall go out to see the sights. Oh, Mr. Rufford, there are some famous shops here! The waiter told me! Would you be so very obliging as to lend me some money—only a very little!—and I swear I will not get into a scrape, or do the least thing you would not like!”