“Are any of them fixed?” inquired Norris.
“Not that I am aware of,” replied the lady's-maid; “but they cannot be long delayed. All depends upon Lady Thicknesse. When she names the day, the other two are sure to follow suit.”
“Her ladyship, I suppose, has positively accepted Sir Bridgnorth?” asked Norris.
“Positively,” replied Laura; “and a very good choice she has made, according to my notion. For my own part, I should prefer the old baronet to either of the young men.”
“Pooh, pooh! He won't bear comparison with my young master. Of course, he's very suitable to a middle-aged dame like Lady Thicknesse.”
“He's very agreeable, I repeat, and I think my lady uncommonly lucky in securing him. I believe they've agreed to spend half the year in town, and the other half in the country. That'll just suit me.”
“At any rate, they'll have no lack of money,” said Norris. “But, after all, Lady Thicknesse is nothing like so rich as her niece--to say nothing of Brackley, which must come to the young lady by-and-by.”
“Yes; they'll have too much,” observed Laura. “I wonder where Mr. Chetwynd and his lady will reside?”
“Why, here--at Ouselcroft--of course,” replied Norris.
“I don't feel sure of that,” said Laura. “I sometimes fancy they'll live at Brackley.”
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Norris. “Mr. Chetwynd will never leave his father's house, now he has got possession of it. I'm certain of that.”
“Then Captain and Mrs. Danvers may as well take up their quarters at Brackley,” said Laura.
“You're settling all very nicely!” said Norris, with a laugh. “But I don't know that Lady Barfleur will consent to take them. I should think not. All very well as visitors, but not for a permanence.”
“Well, then, Mrs. Danvers must buy a place,” said Laura. “She'll have money enough.”
Norris laughed; but, directly afterwards, his countenance changed, and he said, gravely:
“Ah, Laura! we live in a strange world. A month ago, who would have thought things would be in this state? Then we were talking over Mrs. Calverley's contemplated marriage with Lord Courland. Now she is gone, and other weddings are about to take place.”
“Don't mention the poor dear lady, Mr. Norris, if you wouldn't make me cry,” said Laura, taking out her pocket-handkerchief. “She had dreadful faults, no doubt; but she was always very kind to me, and I will say this of her, she was the loveliest creature ever beheld.”