Lettice had not been present when Aubrey detailed his day's occupations,
and she was under the impression that he led a busy life, with few idle
hours.
"Truly, I know not what," she answered; "but the Earl, no doubt, hath
his duties, and 'tis Aubrey's to wait on him."
"The Earl, belike, reads an hour or two with his tutor, seeing he is but
a child: and the rest of the time is there music and dancing, riding the
great horse, playing at billiards, tennis, bowls, and such like. That
is your cousin's business, Mrs Lettice."
"Only that?--but I reckon he cannot be let go, but must come after his
master's heels?"
"He is on duty but three days of every week, save at the _lever_ and
_coucher_, and may go whither he list on the other four."
"Then I marvel he comes not oftener to visit us," said innocent Lettice.
"Do you so? I don't," answered Dorothy, with a little laugh.
"Why?"
"How old are you, Mrs Lettice?"
The notion of discourtesy connected with this query is modern.
"I was twenty last June," said Lettice.
"Dear heart! I should have supposed you were about two," said Dorothy,
with a little curl of her lip.
"But my grandmother thinks so likewise, and she is near eighty," said
Lettice.
"Ah! Extremes meet," answered Dorothy, biting her lip.
Lettice tried to think out this obscure remark, but had not made much
progress, when at the other end of the room she caught a glimpse of
Aubrey. Though he stood with his back to her, she felt sure it was
Aubrey. She knew him by the poise of his head and the soft golden gloss
on his hair; and a moment later, his voice reached her ear. He came up
towards them, stopping every minute to speak with some acquaintance, so
that it took him a little time to reach them.
"There is Cousin Aubrey," said Lettice.