“Very much, of course, but not enough to face another drawing-room catechism, accompanied by draughts of strong tea. There will be no escape this time, so you must be generous, and let me run for it, like poor Mr Granger! I have been very good and docile, but if you only knew how I am longing for freedom!”
There was no gainsaying such a request, nor, indeed, did either of the girls particularly wish to do so.
They made no objections, therefore, but, putting Victor down at the cross-roads, drove on their way in great good-humour.
The Moat was a picturesque old house, though by no means so imposing as the Court. The man-servant reported that Mrs Blount was not well enough to receive visitors, but that Lady Margot was at home and disengaged; and the visitors were shown into a pleasant, sunny apartment, where Margot herself was seated reading. She looked up apprehensively at the sound of the opening door; but at the sight of the two girls her expression changed, and she came forward to greet them with an eagerness which could not be mistaken.
“This is good of you to come so soon! And I am alone, so we can have a delightful chat all to ourselves. Bring tea, Wilson, please. Do come and sit down, and let me make you comfortable! My aunt is not downstairs to-day, and I was getting so bored with my own society that I am doubly pleased to see you! There are so few girls of my own age in this neighbourhood that I find it rather dull after the rush and bustle of town. It is so good of you to be here at the same time as me!”
“It is very nice for us,” responded Mollie brightly; while truthful Ruth hesitated to find some reply which would be at once polite and non-committal. “But isn’t it a strange time for you to come to this quiet place, when London is at its brightest and gayest?”
“Ah, thereby hang many tales!” cried Lady Margot, laughing. “The most important is, perhaps, that I am not strong enough to go through a season just now; but I have no intention of being dull even in Raby. We must amuse each other and do all kinds of nice things together. The great lack on my visits, so far, has been to find any other girls with whom I could be intimate; but now that you are here it will be quite different.”
“But we are only country-cousins, Lady Margot. You will find that we are very ignorant of the things that have made up your life. We are very poor at home, and have had to do most of our gaieties in imagination,” said Ruth; while Mollie gave a little gurgle of laughter, and cried—
“Let’s tell her about Berengaria and Lucille!”
Lady Margot looked her curiosity, and, when the nature of the game was explained in detail in Mollie’s breezy language, went into peals of delighted laughter, and rocked to and fro in her chair.