‘But if I were really your brother,’ said Plantagenet, ’I must have quitted you the same, Venetia.  Boys always go to school; and then we shall be so happy when I return.’

’Oh! but we are so happy now, Plantagenet.  I cannot believe that we are going to part.  And are you sure that you will return?  Perhaps your guardian will not let you, and will wish you to spend your holidays at his house.  His house will be your home now.’

It was impossible for a moment to forget the sorrow that was impending over them.  There were so many preparations to be made for his departure, that every instant something occurred to remind them of their sorrow.  Venetia sat with tears in her eyes marking his new pocket-handkerchiefs which they had all gone to Southport to purchase, for Plantagenet asked, as a particular favour, that no one should mark them but Venetia.  Then Lady Annabel gave Plantagenet a writing-case, and Venetia filled it with pens and paper, that he might never want means to communicate with them; and her evenings were passed in working him a purse, which Lady Annabel took care should be well stocked.  All day long there seemed something going on to remind them of what was about to happen; and as for Pauncefort, she flounced in and out the room fifty times a day, with ’What is to be done about my lord’s shirts, my lady?  I think his lordship had better have another dozen, your la’ship.  Better too much than too little, I always say;’ or, ’O! my lady, your la’ship cannot form an idea of what a state my lord’s stockings are in, my lady.  I think I had better go over to Southport with John, my lady, and buy him some;’ or, ’Please, my lady, did I understand your la’ship spoke to the tailor on Thursday about my lord’s things?  I suppose your la’ship knows my lord has got no great-coat?’

Every one of these inquiries made Venetia’s heart tremble.  Then there was the sad habit of dating every coming day by its distance from the fatal one.  There was the last day but four, and the last day but three, and the last day but two.  The last day but one at length arrived; and at length, too, though it seemed incredible, the last day itself.

Plantagenet and Venetia both rose very early, that they might make it as long as possible.  They sighed involuntarily when they met, and then they went about to pay last visits to every creature and object of which they had been so long fond.  Plantagenet went to bid farewell to the horses and adieu to the cows, and then walked down to the woodman’s cottage, and then to shake hands with the keeper.  He would not say ‘Good-bye’ to the household until the very last moment; and as for Marmion, the bloodhound, he accompanied both of them so faithfully in this melancholy ramble, and kept so close to both, that it was useless to break the sad intelligence to him yet.

‘I think now, Venetia, we have been to see everything,’ said Plantagenet, ’I shall see the peacocks at breakfast time.  I wish Eton was near Cherbury, and then I could come home on Sunday.  I cannot bear going to Cadurcis again, but I should like you to go once a week, and try to keep up our garden, and look after everything, though there is not much that will not take care of itself, except the garden.  We made that together, and I could not bear its being neglected.’