“Ah, you are a wit, Miss Laura!” said the butler. “Well, the description you give of Lord Courland is satisfactory. But I shall be sorry to see my old master's property pass into other hands. Have you any idea what Mr. Chetwynd thinks of the match?”
“Not the slightest,” replied Laura; “except that I feel certain it can't be satisfactory to him or his sister.”
“Impossible—quite impossible!” cried Norris.
“Such is Mr. Higgins's opinion,” observed Laura.
“Your Mr. Higgins seems a very sensible man,” remarked Norris. “I should like to have some talk with him.”
“You would find him most agreeable, as well as very shrewd,” said Laura. “You will be pleased, I'm sure, to hear that he thinks very highly of Mr. Chetwynd.”
“Another proof of his discernment,” said Norris. “By-the-bye, where is our young master? Have you left him in town?”
“He came with us as far as Chester, but he has gone to Charlton Hall with Sir Bridgnorth for a few days.”
“He would have done better to come on here. And Miss Mildred, you say, has gone to Brackley with Miss Barfleur? Well, a great change is at hand. It won't affect you, Laura; but it will affect me. Lord Cour-land will find me too old. He will require a younger and smarter butler, and I shall be dismissed.”
“Oh, I hope not, dear Mr. Norris!” cried Laura. “That would grieve me excessively!”