"Reuben will take care of them, dearest."
"Why, your voice shakes like your hands; and oh, how white you are. But you
are glad to see us, I hope?"
"Gladder than I can say, Henriette."
"I am glad you don't call me Papillon. I have left off that ridiculous
name, which I ought never to have permitted."
"I doubt, mistress, you who know so much know what is in this letter," said
Sir John, staring at Fareham's superscription as if he had come suddenly
upon an adder.
"Nay, sir, I only know that my father was shut in his library for a long
time writing, and was as white as my aunt is now when he brought it to me.
'You and George, and your gouvernante and servants, are to go to the Manor
Moat the day after to-morrow,' he said, 'and you are to give this letter
into your grandfather's hand.' I have done my duty, and await your Honour's
pleasure. Our gouvernante is not the Frenchwoman. Father dismissed her for
neglecting my education, and walking out after dark with Daniel Lettsome.
'Tis only Priscilla, who is something between a servant and a friend, and
who does everything I tell her."
"A pretty gouvernante!"
"Nay, sir, she is as plain as a pikestaff; that is one of her merits.
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