Great was the lamentation among the cousins at Trent House, when it was
found that Mrs Jane could stay only two days with them, instead of the
two months upon which they had reckoned.
"I am the most to be pitied, Jane," said one of the young ladies, whose
name was Juliana Coningsby, "for I start for Lyme in a week hence, and I
had hoped to win you to accompany me thither. Now I know not what to do
for a convoy."
"Well, I cannot go, Gillian," was the answer, "yet may I help you at
this pinch. Take you my man as your guard; I can contrive without him,
since my good cousin, Mr Lascelles, is to return with me."
A little friendly altercation followed, Mrs Juliana protesting that she
could not dream of depriving her cousin of so needful a servant, and
Mrs Jane assuring her that the pleasure of helping her out of a
difficulty was more than compensation for so slight an inconvenience;
but in the end it was agreed that Jackson should proceed with Mrs
Juliana, returning to Bentley Hall when she should no longer require his
services.
The party of eight, therefore, who had left Bentley, were reduced to
four on their return, Mrs Jane and Mr Lascelles on one horse, Jenny
and Mr Lascelles' groom upon another.
They reached the Hall late on a Thursday evening, Mr Lascelles
suggesting when they came to the lodge that Mrs Jane should sit and
rest for a few minutes, while he rode up to the house to hear the latest
news of Mr Lane's health.
The woman who kept the lodge came out courtesying to meet them, and
Jenny wondered why they did not ask her how the old gentleman was.
Mr Lascelles, however, had ridden hastily forward, and he soon returned
with cheering news. Mr Lane had "got well over this brunt," he said;
and Mrs Jane professed herself much cheered and comforted to hear it.
In the hall, as they entered, was Millicent.
"Well, Millicent, I'm not murdered, you see!" cried Mrs Jane cheerily.
"Indeed, Mrs Jane, I'm glad to see it, in especial considering all the
warnings we've had. Three times of a night hath old Cupid bayed the
moon; and a magpie lighted on the tree beside my window only this
morning; and last night I heard the death-watch, as plain as plain could
be!"
"Oh, then, that's for you, not me," responded Mrs Jane quite
cheerfully; "so look Jackson doth not murder you on his return, as he
has left me unharmed."
Millicent looked horrified.
"Oh me! Mrs Jane, is the fellow coming back?"