at if their luggage was ready by four o'clock, he
(Gregorio) would take charge of it, as they were all to go up to town
by the 4.40 train.

'Did he have my note?' faltered Alice, stimulated by the imploring
glances of aunt and daughter, but anticipating the answer.

'Yes, madame, but he wishes that Miss Egremont should accompany you
immediately.'

'Of course,' was Alice's comment, 'now that he has found his child, he
cannot bear to part with her.'

And all through the farewells that almost rent the gentle Alice's heart
in two, she was haunted by the terror that she or her daughter should
have red eyes to vex her husband. As to Mr. Dutton, he had only come
in with Gerard in a great hurry just after breakfast, said there was
much to do to-day at the office, as they were going to take stock, and
they should neither of them have time to come home to luncheon. He
shook the hands of mother and daughter heartily, promised to 'look
after' Miss Headworth, and bore off in his train young Gerard, looking
the picture of woe, and muttering 'I believe he has got it up on
purpose;' while mother and daughter thought it very odd, and rather
unkind.

CHAPTER IX.

NEW PLUMES.

'And ye sall walk in silk attire,
And siller hae to spare.'--Old Ballad.

The very best open fly and pair of horses, being the equipage most like
a private carriage possessed by the Royal Hotel, came to the door with
Mr. Egremont seated in it, at a few minutes after two o'clock, and
found Alice in her only black silk, with a rose in her bonnet, and a
tie to match on her neck, hastily procured as signs of her wifehood.

She had swallowed her tears, and Nuttie was not a crying person, but
was perfectly scarlet on her usually brown cheeks. Her father muttered
some civility about back seats, but it was plain that it was only in
words, and she never thought of anything but looking back, with her
last wave to her aunt and the two maids, one crying at the gate, the
other at the door.

'There,' said Mr. Egremont, as they drove away, 'that is over!'

'My dear aunt,' said his wife. 'Who can express her goodness to me?'

'Cela va sans dire,' was the reply. 'But these are connections that
happily Ursula is young enough to forget and leave behind.'

'I shall never forget!' began Nuttie, but she saw her father composing
himself in his corner without paying the slightest heed to what she was
saying, and she encountered a warning and alarmed glance