of the difficulty, Mr. Armadale," he said. "If the
governess comes to-day, let's have her at the picnic."

Allan's eyes opened wide in astonishment.

"All the horses and carriages in the Thorpe Ambrose stables are not
wanted for this small party of ours," proceeded Pedgift Junior. "Of
course not! Very good. If Miss Gwilt comes to-day, she can't possibly
get here before five o'clock. Good again. You order an open carriage to
be waiting at the major's door at that time, Mr. Armadale, and I'll give
the man his directions where to drive to. When the governess comes to
the cottage, let her find a nice little note of apology (along with the
cold fowl, or whatever else they give her after her journey) begging
her to join us at the picnic, and putting a carriage at her own sole
disposal to take her there. Gad, sir!" said young Pedgift, gayly, "she
_must_ be a Touchy One if she thinks herself neglected after that!"

"Capital!" cried Allan. "She shall have every attention. I'll give her
the pony-chaise and the white harness, and she shall drive herself, if
she likes."

He scribbled a line to relieve Miss Milroy's apprehensions, and gave the
necessary orders for the pony-chaise. Ten minutes later, the carriages
for the pleasure party were at the door.

"Now we've taken all this trouble about her," said Allan, reverting to
the governess as they left the house, "I wonder, if she does come to-day,
whether we shall see her at the picnic!"

"Depends, entirely on her age, sir," remarked young Pedgift, pronouncing
judgment with the happy confidence in himself which eminently
distinguished him. "If she's an old one, she'll be knocked up with the
journey, and she'll stick to the cold fowl and the cottage. If she's
a young one, either I know nothing of women, or the pony in the white
harness will bring her to the picnic."

They started for the major's cottage.

VIII. THE NORFOLK BROADS.

The little group gathered together in Major Milroy's parlor to wait for
the carriages from Thorpe Ambrose would hardly have conveyed the idea,
to any previously uninstructed person introduced among them, of a party
assembled in expectation of a picnic. They were almost dull enough,
as far as outward appearances went, to have been a party assembled in
expectation of a marriage.

Even Miss Milroy herself, though conscious, of looking her best in
her bright muslin dress and her gayly feathered new hat, was at this
inauspicious moment Miss Mi