At this moment, Lady Dimsdale, dressed for travelling, appeared on the terrace. ‘She is going, then. She means to keep her promise,’ said Sir Frederick to himself. He drew a little nearer the group.
‘And must you really and truly leave us this afternoon?’ said Mrs Bowood.
‘Really and truly.’
‘I am very angry with you.’
‘I have promised the children to be back in time to go blackberrying with them, so that you will not lose me for long.’
‘I suppose we shall lose Mr Boyd as soon as you are gone. The house will be too dull for him.’
‘I have no control over Mr Boyd’s actions,’ answered Lady Dimsdale quietly, as she turned away.
‘Then he has not proposed! O dear! O dear!’ murmured Mrs Bowood.
Sir Frederick had seated himself on a rustic chair somewhat apart from the others. He was still uneasy in his mind. ‘He saved Horace’s honour—he saved his life; but he said himself that we are quits.’
‘Why, this is nothing but rank midsummer madness,’ said the Captain to Lady Dimsdale. ‘But you women never know your minds for two days together. You won’t have been settled down at Bayswater more than a week, before you will want to be off somewhere else. Eh, now?’