My heart was so filled with sudden joy that I knew not what I said; but I kissed Cora's hand to conceal my confusion.
"And what of good Sir Nigel, Cora?" I asked.
"Papa comes to England to see you go away, and to take me home," replied my cousin, in a calm voice; "home to Calderwood, when all is over."
"All is over?"
"I mean when the army departs."
"And you are on leave, I perceive, Berkeley?"
"Aw—haw—yes, for a day or so. Doocid bore the work at Maidstone," he drawled out.
I was obliged as yet to dissemble, though there was an ill-concealed air of smiling triumph about my comrade that gave me considerable uneasiness.
"And now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?" said Lady Louisa, tapping me on the epaulette with her parasol, and speaking with an air of mock severity. "So the rules of society are to be inverted to suit your lancer tastes; the ladies are to wait upon the gentlemen? Quartered actually in Canterbury, and yet you never came near us."
"Lady Louisa," I was beginning, yet not knowing what to say, as I could never imagine that she doubted the reason of my non-appearance at Chillingham.