Miss Daubenay bridled. ‘You need not sound so surprised! We have been plighted for a whole year! Why do you look so oddly?’
‘I beg your pardon,’ apologized Pen. ‘But how he must have changed! It is very awkward!’
‘Why?’ asked Lydia, staring.
‘Well, it – it – you wouldn’t understand. Has he been meeting you in woods for a whole year?’
‘No, because Papa sent me to Bath, and Sir Jasper forbade him to see me any more, and even Lady Luttrell said we were too young. But we love each other!’
‘It seems extraordinary,’ said Pen, shaking her head. ‘You know, I find it very hard to believe!’
‘You are the horridest boy! It is perfectly true, and if you know Piers you may ask him for yourself! I wish I had never clapped eyes on you!’
‘So do I,’ replied Pen frankly.
Miss Daubenay burst into tears. Pen surveyed her with interest, and asked presently in the voice of one probing mysteries: ‘Do you always cry as much as this? Do you – do you cry at Piers?’
‘I don’t cryatpeople!’ sobbed Miss Daubenay. ‘And if Piers knew how horrid you have been to me he would very likely knock you down!’
Pen gave a hiccup of laughter. This incensed Lydia so much that she stopped crying, and dramatically commanded Pen to leave the orchard immediately. However, when she discovered that Pen was only too ready to take her at her word, she ran after her, and clasped her by the arm. ‘No, no, you cannot go until we have decided what is to be done. You won’t – oh, youcan’tbe cruel enough to deny my story to Papa!’
Pen considered this. ‘Well, provided you won’t expect me to offer for you –’
‘No, no, I promise I won’t!’
Pen frowned. ‘Yes, but it’s of no use. There is only one thing for it: you will have to run away.’
‘But –’
‘Now, don’t begin to talk about the scandal, and spoiling your dress!’ begged Pen. ‘For one thing, it is odiously missish, and for another Piers will never be able to bear it.’
‘Piers,’ said Miss Daubenay, with swelling bosom, ‘thinks me Perfect!’
‘I haven’t seen Piers for a long time, but hecan’thave grown up as stupid as that!’ Pen pointed out.
‘Yes, he – oh, I hate you, I hate you!’ cried Lydia, stamping her foot. ‘Besides, how can I run away?’
‘Oh, Piers will have to arrange it! If Richard doesn’t object, I daresay I may help him,’ Pen assured her. ‘You will have to escape at dead of night, of course, which puts me in mind of a very important thing: you will need a rope-ladder.’
‘I haven’t a rope-ladder,’ objected Lydia.
‘Well, Piers must make one for you. If he throws it up to your window, you could attach it securely, could you not, and climb down it?’
‘I would rather escape by the door,’ said Lydia, gazing helplessly up at her.
‘Oh, very well, but it seems rather tame! However, it is quiteyour own affair. Piers will be waiting for you with a post-chaise-and-four. You will leap up into it, and the horses will spring forward, and you will fly for the Border! I can see it all!’ declared Pen, her eyes sparkling.
Lydia seemed to catch a little of her enthusiasm. ‘To be sure, it does sound romantic,’ she admitted. ‘Only it is a great way to the Border, and everyone would be so cross with us!’
‘Once you were married that wouldn’t signify.’
‘No. No, it wouldn’t, would it? But I don’t think Piers has any money.’
‘Oh!’ Pen’s face fell. ‘That certainly makes it rather awkward. But I daresay we shall contrive something.’
Lydia said: ‘Well, if you don’t mind, I would prefernotto go to Gretna, because although it would be romantic I can’t help thinking it would be very uncomfortable. Besides, I couldn’t have any attendants, or a wedding-dress, or a lace veil, or anything.’
‘Don’t chatter!’ said Pen. ‘I am thinking.’
