“It is the most mortifying circumstance! I do beg your pardon! But when the servant asked me if I was come in answer to the advertisement I thought—But I should have inquired more particularly!”
“Did you come in answer to the advertisement?” he interrupted, his brow creasing. “Not mine, I fancy!”
“Oh, no! I was hired by Mrs. Macclesfield to be governess to her children—more particularly, her little boy.” In spite of herself, she began to laugh. “Oh, dear, could anything be more nonsensical? You may conceive what an effect your words had upon me!”
“I imagine you must have supposed me to be mad.”
“I did. But it is no laughing matter after all! Pray, where am I, sir?”
“You are at Highnoons, ma’am. Where do you wish to be?”
“Mrs. Macclesfield’s residence is at Five Mile Ash,” she answered. “I hope it may not be far removed from here?”
“I am afraid it is quite sixteen or more miles to the east of this place,” he responded. “You will hardly reach it tonight.”
“Good God, sir, what in the world am I to do? I fear she will be much offended, and I am sure I do not know how to explain my folly to her!”
He did not seem to be attending very closely. He asked abruptly, “Was there no other female got down from the stage at Billingshurst?”