“A place?” exclaimed Chetwynd.
“Yes; since her quarrel with Harry, she has determined to go into service, and our good friend Mr. Tankard has got her a situation as lady's maid. She is gone this evening to Belgrave Square to see Lady Thicknesse, who has engaged her.”
“Now, indeed, you surprise me!” cried Chetwynd. “This is a strange coincidence!”
“Yes; I thought you'd be surprised when I mentioned the name, as you recollect that was the house—— But here she comes!” she exclaimed, as a knock was heard at the door. “Rose, my dear,” she added, “here's some one waiting to see you.”
“I know who it is,” replied her daughter. “I expected to find Mr. Chetwynd Calverley here.”
In another moment she had taken off her hat and cloak, and came into the room, looking as pretty as ever, and, what could hardly have been expected under the circumstances, in very good spirits.
“I felt almost certain I should find you here, Mr. Calverley,” she said, after salutations rather more distant than formerly had passed between them. “You will understand why I say so when I tell you I have just seen your sister and Miss Barfleur, and two more charming, amiable young ladies I never beheld. It will be quite a pleasure to me to attend upon them. And I must say they appeared equally well pleased with me. They seemed to know all about me.”
“Yes; I had described you to them,” remarked Chetwynd.
“So they told me,” said Rose. “It's a curious thing altogether; but what makes it more singular is that I should go to the house at the very time of their arrival. I believe I was engaged by Lady Thicknesse expressly to attend to them.”
Mrs. Hartley had uttered a great many exclamations as her daughter went on, and she now said: