phill
flinty road.

These were her sensations, and she found it diverting to be admired;
admired by many while she knew herself to be absorbed in the possession
of her by one. It bestowed the before and after of her marriage. She
felt she was really, had rapidly become, the young woman of the world,
armed with a husband, to take the flatteries of men for the needed
diversion they brought. None moved her; none could come near to touching
the happy insensibility of a wife who adored her husband, wrote to
him daily, thought of him by the minute. Her former worshippers were
numerous at Livia's receptions; Lord Fleetwood, Lord Brailstone, and the
rest. Odd to reflect on--they were the insubstantial but coveted wealth
of the woman fallen upon poverty, ignoble poverty! She could not
discard her wealth. She wrote amusingly of them, and fully, vivacious
descriptions, to Chillon; hardly so much writing to him as entering her
heart's barred citadel, where he resided at his ease, heard everything
that befell about her. If she dwelt on Lord Fleetwood's kindness in
providing entertainments, her object was to mollify Chillon's anger in
some degree. She was doing her utmost to gratify him, 'for the purpose
of paving a way to plead Janey's case.' She was almost persuading
herself she was enjoying the remarks of his friend, confidant,
secretary, or what not, Livia's worshipper, Mr. Woodseer, 'who does
as he wills with my lord; directs his charities, his pleasures, his
opinions, all because he is believed to have wonderful ideas and be
wonderfully honest.' Henrietta wrote: 'Situation unchanged. Janey still
At that place'; and before the letter was posted, she and Livia had
heard from Gower Woodseer of the reported disappearance of the
Countess of Fleetwood and her maid. Gower's father had walked up from
Whitechapel, bearing news of it to the earl, she said.

'And the earl is much disturbed?' was Livia's inquiry.

'He has driven down with my father,' Gower said carelessly, ambiguously
in the sound.

Troubled enough to desire the show of a corresponding trouble, Henrietta
read at their faces.

'May it not be--down there--a real danger?'

The drama, he could inform her, was only too naked down there for
disappearances to be common.

'Will it be published that she is missing?'

'She has her maid with her, a stout-hearted girl. Both have courage. I
don't think we need take measures just yet.'

'Not before it is public property?'