“No saddle-horses!” went on Charlotte. “I shall forget how to ride. I never heard of such a thing as a country-house without saddle-horses. Where was the use of bringing my new cap and habit? Only to have them crushed!”
Maria seemed to have relapsed into thought. She made no reply. Presently Charlotte began again.
“I wish I had my dogs here! Lady Godolphin would not extend the invitation even to King Charlie. She said she did not like dogs. What a heathen she must be! If I could only see my darling pet, King Charlie! Kate never mentioned him once in her letter this morning!”
The words aroused Maria to animation. “Did you receive a letter this morning from Prior’s Ash? You did not tell me.”
“Margery brought it to my bedroom. It came last night, I fancy, and lay in the letter-box. I do not think Sir George ought to keep that letter-box entirely under his own control,” continued Charlotte. “He grows forgetful. Some evenings I know it is never looked at.”
“I have not observed that Sir George is forgetful,” dissented Maria.
“You observe nothing. I say that Sir George declines daily: both bodily and mentally. I see a great difference in him, even in the short time that we have been here. He is not the man he was.”
“He has his business letters regularly; and answers them.”
“Quite a farce to send them,” mocked handsome Charlotte. “Thomas Godolphin is ultra-filial.”
“What news does Mrs. Verrall give you?” inquired Maria.