174 T^HE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



for just at that moment the lady's maid — who had a pretty 

 busy tmie of it, ' valeting ' all the four ladies at Catchem 

 Court — came noiselessly along the gallery where the twain 

 were seated, and caught them in flagrante delicto, hand in 

 hand. She discreetly coughed, and then announced that tea 

 had been taken into the drawing-room. 



The lovers in embryo had, perforce, to rise and rejoin the 

 rest of the family for the purpose of helping to ruin their 

 digestions with weak tea and underdone muffins. The maid 

 disappeared into the servants' hall, muttering to herself — 



"Well, I'm sure! pretty goin's on, I must say! 'Ere's my 

 gentleman a deludin' that long-legged, scraggy gal" — she did 

 not waste compliments on any of her mistresses — "and Tottie 

 tellin' me this ever so long ago as he really 'ad promised to 

 marry 'er ! At all events, I shall jest write her a note to say 

 'ow 'e's carryin' on, and leave 'er to do as she likes about 

 it." And that very evening a letter was duly written and 

 addressed to 



Aliss Tottie Ttu-norcr, 



at Mr. Turnover's, 



Baker t£- Confectioner, 



Wandell Street, 



London. 



which said letter might have caused some material diminution 

 of Mr. Binkie's appetite had he only known of it. Fortunately 

 for his peace of mind, he did not — but Fate, that sorry jade 

 whose frowns are many, and whose smiles are few, was brew- 

 ing a storm above his devoted head, and the lady's maid's 

 missive was the first one of the gathering clouds of which 

 that storm was to be composed. 



