"I shall be there directly," replied the young wife; and the valet wondered greatly at the cool way in which she took the news of her husband's serious condition.
"Those pretty society young women have no hearts," he thought, indignantly. "She married my poor young master for his money, not for love; that is quite evident to me."
Young Mrs. Gardiner was just about to leave her boudoir, when Antoinette returned.
"You saw him and delivered my message?" said Sally, anxiously.
"Oh, yes, my lady," returned the girl.
"Well," said Sally, expectantly, "what did he say?"
"He was raving angry, my lady," laughed Antoinette. "He swore as I told him all; but at length he cooled down, seeing that his rage did not mend matters. 'Take this to your mistress, my good girl,' he said, tearing a leaf from his memorandum-book, and scribbling hastily, upon it. Here it is, my lady."
As she spoke, she thrust a crumpled bit of paper into young Mrs. Gardiner's trembling hand.
There was no date; the note contained but a few lines, and read as follows:
"I shall be by the alder-bushes at midnight to-morrow night, and shall expect you to be equally punctual. No subterfuge, please. If for any reason you should fail to keep your appointment, I shall call upon you directly after breakfast the following morning, and shall see you—at any cost!