The housekeeper, stout and matronly, received her mistress at the door.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Middleton,” she said. “How long it seems since you went away!”
“How do you do, Sarah?” said her mistress, graciously. “I can assure you I am glad to be back.”
“You will find everything in order, mum, I hope and believe,” said Sarah. “We expected to see you sooner.”
“I hoped to be back sooner, but the business detained me longer than I desired.”
“And how did you succeed, mum, if I may be so bold?” inquired the housekeeper, curiously.
“As I expected, Sarah. I found that the poor boy was dead.”
“I hoped to bring him back with me, according to my poor husband’s desire, but it was ordered otherwise by an inscrutable Providence.”
“It is very sad,” she said, but she looked curiously at her mistress.
She knew very well that this sad news rejoiced the heart of Mrs. Middleton, and the latter knew that she could not for a moment impose upon her clear-sighted housekeeper. But the farce must be kept up for the sake of appearances.
“Come up to my chamber with me, Sarah. I want to ask you what has been going on since I was away. Have you heard from Lady Lovell’s family? Are they all well?”
Lady Lovell was the mother of Capt. Gregory Lovell, and the question was earnestly put.
“They are all well except the captain,” answered Sarah.
“Is he sick?” demanded her mistress, turning upon her swiftly.
“No, mum; I only meant to say the captain was gone away.”
“He’s ordered to India, I believe, mum. He went away a month ago.”
Mrs. Middleton sank into her chair quite overcome. Her joy was clouded, for the reward of her long and toilsome journey was snatched from her.
“Did he not leave any message?” she asked. “Did he not call before he went away?”
“Give it to me quick. Why did you not mention it before?”
“It’s the first chance I got, mum. The letter is in my own chamber. I took the best care of it. I will get it directly.”
Mrs. Middleton awaited the return of Sarah with nervous impatience. Perhaps the captain had thrown her over after all, and, loving him as she did, this would have torn the heart of the intriguing woman, who, cold and selfish as she was so far as others were concerned, really loved the handsome captain.