‘I forgot!’ exclaimed William.  ’Mrs. Weston desired me to say that she is not going, and she will take care of Ada.  Mr. Weston will set her down at half-past ten, and take up one of us.’

‘I will be that one,’ said Reginald, ’I have not seen Miss Weston since I came home.  I meant to walk to Broomhill after dinner yesterday, only the Baron stopped me about that country-dance.  Last Christmas I made her promise to dance with me to-day.’

Lily had hoped to be that one, but she did not oppose Reginald, and turned to listen to Eleanor, who was saying, ’Let us clearly understand how every one is to go, it will save a great deal of confusion.  You and Jane, and Maurice, go in the phaeton, do not you?  And who drives you?’

‘William, I believe,’ said Lily.  ’Claude goes earlier, so he rides the gray.  Then there is the chariot for you and Frank, and papa and Phyllis.’

So it was proposed, but matters turned out otherwise.  The phaeton, which, with a promoted cart-horse, was rather a slow conveyance, was to set out first, but the whole of the freight was not ready in time.  The ladies were in the hall as soon as it came to the door, but neither of the gentlemen were forthcoming.  Reginald, who was wandering in the hall, was sent to summon them; but down he came in great wrath.  Maurice had declared that he was not ready, and they must wait for him till he had tied his neckcloth, which Reginald opined would take three quarters of an hour, as he was doing it scientifically, and William had said that he was not going in the gig at all, that he had told Wat Greenwood to drive, and that Reginald must go instead of Maurice.

In confirmation of the startling fact Wat, who had had a special invitation from the Marquis, was sitting in the phaeton in his best black velvet coat.  Jane only hoped that Emily would not look out of the window, or she would certainly go into fits on seeing them arrive with the old phaeton, the thick-legged cart-horse, and Wat Greenwood for a driver; and Reginald, after much growling at Maurice, much bawling at William’s door, and, as Jane said, romping and roaring in all parts of the house, was forced to be resigned to his fate, and all the way to Hetherington held a very amusing conversation with his good-natured friend the keeper.

They were overtaken, nodded to, and passed by the rest of their party.  Maurice had been reduced to ride the pony, William came with the ’Westons, and the chariot load was just as had been before arranged.

Claude came out to meet them at the door, saying, ’I need not have gone so early.  What do you think has become of the hero of the day?  Guess, I will just give you this hint,

“Though on pleasure he was bent, he had no selfish mind."’

‘Oh! the Aylmers, I suppose,’ said Lilias.

’Right, Lily, he heard something at dinner yesterday about a school for clergymen’s sons, which struck him as likely to suit young Devereux Aylmer, and off he set at seven o’clock this morning to Raynham, to breakfast with Mrs. Aylmer, and talk to her about it.  Never let me hear again that he is engrossed with his own affairs!’