"Will you have done? Trespass indeed!"
"I perceive I shall be much put upon," sighed Jack, and watched her lightning smile.
"You BOY! Will you dictate?"
"Very well, ma'am. No, I have changed my mind. I'll have it writ to a friend, please: 'Dear Miles, . . . True to my promise . . . I write to you . . . In case . . . you should be worried . . . over my disappearance . . . be it known . . . that I am at'-pray, madam, where am I?"
"Horton Manor, Littledean," she replied, writing it down.
"Thank you. 'I had the misfortune to injure my shoulder in a-"
"'And arm,'" put in the scribe, inexorably.
"'And arm, in a fight . . . and a certain very . . . kind lady-'"
"I refuse to write that rubbish! 'One of the ladies whom I rescued-'"
"Good heavens, madam, you've not put that?" cried Jack horrified.
She smiled reassuringly.
"I have not. I have put: 'My nurse is writing this for me.'"
"Madam, you are of a teasing disposition," reproved my lord. "M-yes-'When you take Jenny-over to Trencham . . . will you please tell Jim to bring my baggage . . . here at once?' Have you that, Miss Betty?"
"Yes."
"'Remember me to Lady . . . Molly, I beg . . . and accept my apologies . . . and thanks.'" He paused. "Will you sign it J.C., please, and address it to Sir Miles O'Hara, Thurze House, Maltby?"
"Sir Miles O'Hara! Is he your friend, Mr.-Mr.-I do not know your name."
"Car-" began Jack, and stopped, biting his lip. "Carr," he continued imperturbably, "John Carr. Do you know O'Hara, Miss Betty?"
"Me? No! Will he come to see you, do you think?"
"If you let him in, madam!"
"Gracious! Well, well! I'll tell Thomas to ride over with this at once."
"Miss Betty? you are marvellously good. I vow I can never thank-"
"Bless the boy! And what about yourself, pray? I shudder to think of what might have happened to Di if you had not come up! 'Tis we can never thank you enough."
Jack reddened boyishly and uncomfortably.
"Indeed, you exaggerate-"
"Tut, tut! Well, go to sleep, and never worry about anything till I return. And you won't try and get up?"
He shook with laughter.
"I swear I will not! Even an you never return, I will lie here, wasting away-" But he spoke to space, for with a delighted laugh she had left the room.
It was not until late that afternoon that O'Hara arrived, and he was conducted, after a brief conversation with Diana and her father, to my lord's room, where Miss Betty received him with her cheery smile and jerky curtsey.
"You'll not excite Mr. Carr?" she said, but was interrupted by my lord's voice from within, weak but very gay.