"Not irrevocably. Here comes your horse round, Mr. Chandos."
"My signal for departure. And I believe I am speeding on a useless errand."
"Is it an important one?"
"It is to inquire after a lady to replace Mrs. Freeman as companion to Mrs. Chandos. Some one my mother knows; a Miss White. Miss White was seeking for such a situation a few months ago; but the probabilities are that she has found one."
A strong impulse came over me to offer to supply the place—until I should be called away by Madame de Mellissie. Miss White! she might be only a young person. If I could but make myself useful, it would take away the compunction I felt at having been thrust upon them at Chandos. I spoke on the impulse of the moment, blushing and timid as a schoolgirl. Mr. Chandos smiled, and shook his head.
"It is not a situation that would suit you; or you it."
"Is Miss White older than I?"
"A little. She is about fifty-six."
"Oh! But as a temporary arrangement, sir?—Until we have news from Madame de Mellissie. I should like to repay a tithe of the obligation I am under to Lady Chandos."
"A great obligation, that! No, it could not be. We should have you and Mrs. Chandos running into the shrubberies after sleepwalkers and ghosts, as it seems you did last night. Besides," he added, taking up his gloves and riding-whip, "if you became Mrs. Chandos's companion, what should I do for mine?"