Milsom's offer of
friendship.
He did drop in very often, having plenty of leisure evenings in which
to amuse himself; and through him Thomas Milsom was enabled to become
familiar with every detail of the household at Raynham Castle.
"No news of your lady, I suppose, Mr. Harwood?" Milsom said to him one
Sunday evening in January. "Not coming home yet, I suppose?"
"No, Mr. Maunders," answered the groom; "not to my knowledge. And as to
news, there ain't anymore news of her than if she and Miss Payland had
gone off to the very wildest part of Africa, where, if you feel
lonesome, and want company, your only choice lies between tigers and
rattlesnakes."
"Never mind Africa! What was it that you were going to say about your
lady?"
"Well, I was about to inform you," replied the groom, with offended
dignity, "when you took me up so uncommon short as to prevent me--I was
about to observe that, although we haven't received no news whatsoever
from my lady direct, we have received a little bit of news promiscuous
that is rather puzzling, in a manner of speaking."
"What is it?"
"Well, you see, Mr. Maunders," began James Harwood, with extreme
solemnity, "it is given out that Lady Eversleigh is gone abroad to the
Continent--wherever that place may be situated--and a very nice place
I dare say it is, when you get there; and it is likewise given out that
Miss Payland have gone with her.
Pages:
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555