know what rooms are best?" she said, "and
if Sir Tom will be at home to receive them; or perhaps it may be some
friends of Aunt Randolph's, or perhaps--I wonder very much who it can
be."

Jock's countenance covered itself quickly with a tinge of gloom.

"Whoever it is, I know it will be disgusting," cried the boy. "Just when
we have got so much to talk about! and now I shall never see you any
more. Lady Randolph was bad enough, and now here's more of them! I
should just as soon go back to school at once," he said, with premature
indignation. The servants on the box perceived the other carriage in
advance with equal curiosity and excitement. They were still more
startled, perhaps, for a profound wonder as to what horses had been sent
out, and who was driving them, agitated their minds. The horses,
solicited by a private token between them and their driver which both
understood, quickened their pace with a slight dash, and the carriage
swept along as if in pursuit of the larger and heavier vehicle, which,
however, had so much the advance of them, that it had deposited its
passengers, and turned round to the servants' entrance with the luggage,
before Lady Randolph could reach the door. Williams the butler wore a
startled look upon his dignified countenance, as he came out on the
steps to receive his mistress.

"Some one has arrived," said Lucy with a little eagerness. "We saw the
omnibus."

"Yes, my lady. A telegram came for Sir Thomas soon after your ladyship
left; there was just time to put in the horses----"

"But who is it, Williams?"

Williams had a curious apologetic air. "I heard say, my lady, that it
was some of the party that were invited before Mr. Randolph fell ill.
There had been a mistake about the letters, and the lady has come all
the same--a lady with a foreign title, my lady----"

"Oh!" said Lucy, with English brevity. She stood startled, in the hall,
lingering a little, changing colour, not with any of the deep emotions
which Williams from his own superior knowledge suspected, but with
shyness and excitement. "It will be the lady from Italy, the
Contessa---- Oh, I hope they have attended to her properly! Was Sir
Thomas at home when she came?"

"Sir Thomas, my lady, went to meet them at the station," Williams said.

"Oh, that is all right," cried Lucy, relieved. "I am so glad she did not
arrive and find nobody. And I hope Mrs. Freshwater----"

"Mrs. Freshwater put the party into the east wing,