"Not until I shall see you again; but you may take all such measures as may prepare her for her sudden departure."
Mr. M'Kinlay was, throughout the brief interview, more despotic than gallant. He was not quite satisfied that the mission was one in perfect accordance with his high professional dignity, and so to relieve himself from any self-reproach, he threw a dash of severity through his condescension.
"I suppose," said he, superbly--"I suppose she has clothes?"
Mademoiselle stared at this, but did not reply.
"I am somewhat unaccustomed, as you may perceive, Mademoiselle, to these sort of affairs; I know nothing of young ladies' wardrobes. I simply asked, was she in a position to travel, if called on, at a brief notice?"
"My poor Kate! my poor Kate!" was all that the governess could utter.
"I must say, Mademoiselle," said he, pompously, "that, looking to what she originally came from, and taking into account the care and cost bestowed upon her, I do not perceive this to be a case that calls for any deep commiseration."
"Poor child! poor child!" stammered she out; and, unable to control her emotion, she arose and left the room.
"Rickards was right; that artful minx has won them all over. It is high time to send her back to her own country, and, from the brief experience I have had of it, I'll venture to say all her captivations there will not make many victims. Three o'clock already," said he, with surprise, "and I had meant to be at Dalradern early." He rung and ordered the carriage. It had been at the door for above an hour. Strange how the morning should have slipped over; had it been real business, what a deal he could have transacted in the time; but these little "peddling negotiations," so he called them, ran away with a man's time before he was aware of it. As he passed through the hall, he saw, through a partly open door, the two girls--they were seated at a table, with their heads bent over a map.
"Yea," said Ada, "this is the way papa mentions; here is Marseilles, and here, if the sea be rough, is the road we shall have to travel, all along the coast, by Nice and Genoa. Oh, don't you wish it may be bad weather, Kate?"
M'Kinlay bent his head, but could not catch the words she spoke.