hrough
that borough, and out by the King's-Hintock highway, till, passing the
villages he entered the mile-long drive through the park to the Court.
The drive being open, without an avenue, the Squire could discern the
north front and door of the Court a long way off, and was himself visible
from the windows on that side; for which reason he hoped that Betty might
perceive him coming, as she sometimes did on his return from an outing,
and run to the door or wave her handkerchief.

But there was no sign. He inquired for his wife as soon as he set foot
to earth.

'Mistress is away. She was called to London, sir.'

'And Mistress Betty?' said the Squire blankly.

'Gone likewise, sir, for a little change. Mistress has left a letter for
you.'

The note explained nothing, merely stating that she had posted to London
on her own affairs, and had taken the child to give her a holiday. On
the fly-leaf were some words from Betty herself to the same effect,
evidently written in a state of high jubilation at the idea of her jaunt.
Squire Dornell murmured a few expletives, and submitted to his
disappointment. How long his wife meant to stay in town she did not say;
but on investigation he found that the carriage had been packed with
sufficient luggage for a sojourn of two or three weeks.

King's-Hintock Court was in consequence as gloomy as Falls-Park had been.
He had lost all zest for hunting of late, and had hardly attended a meet
that season. Dornell read and re-read Betty's scrawl, and hunted up some
other such notes of hers to look over, this seeming to be the only
pleasure there was left for him. That they were really in London he
learnt in a few days by another letter from Mrs. Dornell, in which she
explained that they hoped to be home in about a week, and that she had
had no idea he was coming back to King's-Hintock so soon, or she would
not have gone away without telling him.

Squire Dornell wondered if, in going or returning, it had been her plan
to call at the Reynards' place near Melchester, through which city their
journey lay. It was possible that she might do this in furtherance of
her project, and the sense that his own might become the losing game was
harassing.

He did not know how to dispose of himself, till it occurred to him that,
to get rid of his intolerable heaviness, he would invite some friends to
dinner and drown his cares in grog and wine. No sooner was the carouse
decided upon than he pu