Can't mistake that.'
'No, no, I may have something important, very important, Charles, to
say to you. At five o'clock, will you be on The Green? There's a seat
by the old monument. It won't take a minute to get there. Are you
listening? On The Green at five o'clock. Come towards me as soon as
you see me and at once we'll walk together towards the avenue. Wait
till six, and if I don't come, will you still hold yourself in
readiness at home? Don't forget. Don't be absent-minded and forget
what you are there for, and even if there's a barrel-organ playing
dreadful tunes, you'll wait there? For Henrietta.'
'I don't understand this about Henrietta.'
'That doesn't matter, not in the least. Now what are your
instructions?'
He repeated them.
'Very well. I trust you.'
They separated and she went home, a little amused by her melodramatic
conduct, but much comforted by the fact that Charles, though ignorant
of his part, was with her in this conspiracy. She was met by
reproaches from Sophia.
'Oh, Rose, riding on such a day! And Henrietta out, too! Suppose we'd
wanted something from the chemist!'
'But you didn't, did you? And there are four servants in the house.
How is Caroline now?'
'Very quiet. Oh, Rose, she's very ill. She lets me do anything I like.
She hasn't a fault to find with me.'
'Let Henrietta sit with her this afternoon while Nurse is out.'
'No, no, Rose, I must do what I can for her.
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