"How d' y' do, Jenny, my dear?" said a voice, on which, as on the tones of an old piano, a few years had told a good deal, but which she recognised with some little surprise, for notwithstanding Lady Alice's note accepting the Baronet's invitation, he had talked and thought of her actually coming to Marlowe as a very unlikely occurrence indeed.
"Oh! oh! Lady Alice Redcliffe!" exclaimed the young wife, setting down her bed-room candle, and advancing with a transitory smile to her old kinswoman, who half rose from her throne and kissed her on the cheek as she stooped to meet her salutation. "You have only arrived a few minutes; I saw your carriage going round from the door."
"About forty minutes—hardly an hour. How you have filled up, Jane; you're quite an imposing figure since I saw you. I don't think it unbecoming; your embonpoint does very well; and you're quite well?"
"Very well—and you?"
"I'm pretty well, dear, a good deal fatigued; and so you're a wife, Jennie, and very happy, I hope."
"I can't say I have anything to trouble me. I am quite happy, that is, as happy as other people, I suppose."
"I hear nothing but praises of your husband. I shall be so happy to make his acquaintance," continued Lady Alice.
"He has had to go up to town about business this morning, but he's to return very soon."
"How soon, dear?"
"In a day or two," answered the young wife.