We have often seen young ladies crowing over their lovers' letters,
and it was pleasant to see Lizzie crowing over hers. And yet there was but
very little in the letter. Lord Fawn told her that what with the House and
what with the Office, he could not get down to Richmond before Saturday;
but that on Saturday he would come. Then he signed himself "Yours
affectionately, Fawn." Lizzie did her crowing very prettily. The outward
show of it was there to perfection, so that the Fawn girls really believed
that their brother had written an affectionate lover's letter. Inwardly
Lizzie swore to herself, as she read the cold words with indignation, that
the man should not escape her.
The days went by very tediously. On the Wednesday and the Friday Lady
Eustace made an excuse of going up to town, and insisted on taking the
unfortunate Augusta with her. There was no real reason for these journeys
to London, unless that glance which on each occasion was given to the
contents of the iron case was a real reason. The diamonds were safe, and
Miss Macnulty was enjoying herself. On the Friday Lizzie proposed to
Augusta that they should jointly make a raid upon the member of Her
Majesty's Government at his office; but Augusta positively refused to take
such a step.
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