"Well met," she said, "I called at the Rectory to take up Rachel, but
you were flown before me."
"Yes, we went through the Park."
"I wish the Duke would come home. I can't go that way now till I have
called. I have no end of things to say to you," she added, and her
little lively ponies shot ahead of the old rectorial steed. However, she
waited at the entrance. "Who do you think is come? Colin Keith made
his appearance this morning. He has safely captured his Ouralian bear,
though not without plenty of trouble, and he could not get him on
to Avonmouth till he had been to some chemical institution about an
invention. Colin thought him safe there, and rushed down by the train to
see us. They go on to-morrow."
"What did he think of Lord Keith?" said Alick, in the more haste because
he feared something being said to remind Rachel that this was the assize
week at Avoncester.
"He has settled the matter about advice," said Bessie, seriously; "you
cannot think what a relief it is. I mean, as soon as I get home, to
write and ask Mr. Harvey to come and talk to me to-morrow, and see if
the journey to Edinburgh is practicable. I almost thought of sending an
apology, and driving over to consult him this afternoon, but I did
not like to disappoint Mrs. Huntsford, and I thought Rachel would feel
herself lost."
"Thank you," said Rachel, "but could we not go away early, and go round
by Mr. Harvey's?"
"Unluckily I have sent the ponies home, and told the close carriage to
come for me at nine. It was all settled, and I don't want to alarm Lord
Keith by coming home too soon."
Alick, who had hitherto listened with interest, here gave his arm to
Rachel, as if recollecting that it was time to make their entree. Bessie
took her uncle's, and they were soon warmly welcomed by their kind
hostess, who placed them so favourably at luncheon that Rachel was too
much entertained to feel any recurrence of the old associations with
"company." Afterwards, Bessie took her into the cool drawing-room, where
were a few ladies, who preferred the sofa to croquet or archery, and
Lady Keith accomplished a fraternization between Rachel and a plainly
dressed lady, who knew all about the social science heroines of whom
Rachel had longed to hear. After a time, however, a little girl darted
in to call "Aunt Mary" to the aid of some playfellow, who had met with
a mishap, and Rachel then perceived herself to have been deserted by
her sister-in-law. She knew none of the other ladies, and they made no
approaches to her; an access of self-consciousness came on, and feeling
forlorn and uncomfortable, she wandered out to look for a friend.