“The silly wretch is in love with him: she shows it in her eyes. Oh the impudence!”
CHAPTER IX.
HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.
Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town. I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.
“Dear Miss Pleydell,” she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, “have you heard the dreadful news?”
“I have heard no news,” I replied.
“We have lost the chief ornament of the company. Yes; you may well turn pale”—I am sure I did nothing of the kind—“Lord Chudleigh has left Epsom—some say for the season: some say on account of some distaste he has conceived for the place: some say on account of previous engagements.”
“What kind of engagements?”
“I thought you would ask that. It is rumoured that he is shortly to be married to a young lady of good birth and with a fortune equal to his own. It is certain that he will not return.”
“Really!” said Nancy, who had now come to my aid, “how shall you be able to exist, dear Miss Peggy, without him?”