His lordship's groom
of the chambers is my witness that I protested against such an outrageous
proceeding."
"Two coaches!" exclaimed Angela.
"A coach-and-six for me and my dogs and my gouvernante, and a
coach-and-four for my people," explained Henriette, who had modelled her
equipage and suite upon a reminiscence of the train which attended Lady
Castlemaine's visit to Chilton, as beheld from a nursery window.
"Come, child, and rest, out of the sun; and you, mademoiselle, must need
refreshment after so long a drive."
"Our progress through a perpetual cloud of dust and a succession of narrow
lanes did indeed suggest the torments of purgatory; but the happiness
of madame's gracious welcome is an all-sufficient compensation for our
fatigue," mademoiselle replied, with a deep curtsey.
"I was not tired in the least," asserted Henriette. "We stopped at the
Crown at Thame and had strawberries and milk."
"_You_ had strawberries and milk, mon enfant. I have a digestion which will
not allow such liberties."
"And our horses were baited, and our people had their morning drink," said
Henriette, with her grown-up air. "One ought always to remember cattle and
servants. May we put up our horses with you, auntie? We must leave you soon
after dinner, so as to be at Chilton by sunset, or mademoiselle will
be afraid of highwaymen, though I told Samuel and Peter to bring their
blunderbusses in case of an attack.
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