"You may go," she said; "I will ring when I want you."
Jane Payland would have given a good deal to see that letter opened;
but she had no excuse for remaining longer in the room. So she
departed, and went to her lady's dressing-room, which, as well as all
the other apartments, opened out of the corridor.
In about a quarter of an hour, Lady Eversleigh's bell rang, and Jane
hurried to the morning-room.
She found her mistress still seated by the hearth. Her desk stood open
on the table by her side; and on the desk lay a letter, so newly
addressed that the ink on the envelope was still wet.
"You will take that to the lad who is waiting," said Honoria, pointing
to this newly-written letter.
"Yes, my lady."
Jane Payland departed. On the way between Lady Eversleigh's room and
the lobby in the servants' offices, she had ample leisure to examine
the letter.
It was addressed--
"_Mr. Brown, at the 'Hen and Chickens_.'"
It was sealed with a plain seal. Jane Payland was very well acquainted
with the writing of her mistress, and she perceived at once that this
letter was not directed in Lady Eversleigh's usual hand.
The writing had been disguised. It was evident, therefore, that this
was a letter which Lady Eversleigh would have shrunk from avowing as
her own.
Every moment the mystery grew darker. Jane Payland liked her mistress;
but there were two things which she liked still better.
Pages:
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290