We had embraced with tears; and her kind face was still before me,
and her words of comfort and promise in my ears. The early sharpness
of morning was still in the air; the frosty dew still glistened on the
window-panes. We had made a hasty breakfast, my share of which was a single
cup of tea. The aspect of the house how strange! Uncarpeted, uninhabited,
doors for the most part locked, all the servants but Mrs. Rusk and Branston
departed. The drawing-room door stood open, and a charwoman was washing the
bare floor. I was looking my last--for who could say how long?--on the old
house, and lingered. The luggage was all up. I made Mary Quince get in
first, for every delay was precious; and now the moment was come. I hugged
and kissed Mrs. Rusk in the hall.
'God bless you, Miss Maud, darling. You must not fret; mind, the time won't
be long going over--_no_ time at all; and you'll be bringing back a fine
young gentleman--who knows? as great as the Duke of Wellington, for your
husband; and I'll take the best of care of everything, and the birds and
the dogs, till you come back; and I'll go and see you and Mary, if you'll
allow, in Derbyshire;' and so forth.
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