“Bless me, Mr. Sandford,” cried Miss Milner, “I meant no reflection upon Miss Fenton’s disposition; I only meant to censure her taste for staying at home.”
“I think,” replied Mr. Sandford, “a much heavier censure should be passed upon those who prefer rambling abroad.”
“But I hope, ladies, my not coming,” said Lord Elmwood, “was no inconvenience to you; for you had still, I see, a gentleman with you.”
“Oh! yes, two gentlemen:” answered the son of Lady Evans, a lad from school, whom Miss Milner had taken along with her.
“What two?” asked Lord Elmwood.
Neither Miss Milner nor Miss Woodley answered.
“You know, Madam,” said young Evans, “that handsome gentleman who handed you into your carriage, and you called my Lord.”
“Oh! he means Lord Frederick Lawnly:” said Miss Milner carelessly, but a blush of shame spread over her face.
“And did he hand you into your coach?” asked Lord Elmwood earnestly.
“By mere accident, my Lord,” Miss Woodley replied, “for the crowd was so great——”