"I'll come with you all as far as Paris, and there you can drop me to do
some stopping. I shall stay two or three weeks, I expect."
Ann's face still remained clouded. She felt that it was hardly fair to
desert Lady Susan so suddenly, much as she longed to join Robin as speedily
as possible.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather I stayed with you a little longer?" she
suggested earnestly. "I'm sure Robin could manage for a few
weeks--especially as he will have Maria Coombe."
Lady Susan's quick dark eyes flashed over her.
"Who is Maria Coombe?" she demanded.
Ann laughed.
"Maria Coombe is a host in herself," she answered. "She's an old Devonshire
servant who was with my mother originally. I believe she came to Lovell
when she was about eighteen as kitchen-maid. Then, when Robin and I were
kiddies she was our nurse, and after we grew too old to need one she stayed
on in a sort of general capacity. I never remember life without Maria until
she got married. Her husband was killed in the war, and now she's coming to
Oldstone Cottage to look after us. I'm so delighted about it," she added.
"It will be like old times having Maria around again."
"That's really nice for you," agreed Lady Susan heartily.
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