Addressing himself again to Lady Aimwell, who was beginning to recover from her fatigue, Mr Darnley asked more particularly concerning the eloped one. And in answer to the rector’s enquiries, Lady Aimwell informed him that Miss Glossop had actually acknowledged having received proposals from Lord Spoonbill through Colonel Crop, and that the young lady had also avowed her readiness to consent to a private marriage. Her ladyship also proceeded to inform Mr Darnley that, in consequence of this avowal, she had written to inform the young lady’s father, and that Mr Glossop had sent an answer to the communication, requesting that Arabella might be sent home immediately. This letter was shewn to Miss Glossop, who professed her readiness to return home; and preparations were accordingly made for her departure from Neverden Hall; but, on this very morning on which she should have returned home, she was missing. Lady Aimwell then informed Mr Darnley that enquiry was made among the servants, and that the old gardener had seen Miss Glossop as early as six in the morning walking towards Smatterton; and that when messengers were sent to the castle, word was brought back that Colonel Crop and a young lady had set off in a post-chaise with four horses at a little after six. But at length came the worst part of the story, and that was that Sir George Aimwell treated the whole affair with levity and indifference: he said that Lord Spoonbill was a man of honor, and that Miss Glossop was in very good hands. “Lord Spoonbill,” continued her ladyship, “may be a man of honor, but he is a very profligate and unprincipled man for all that.” That was a strange assertion for Lady Aimwell to make, but she was very much agitated, and she hardly knew what she said. “But after all, Lady Aimwell,” said Mr Darnley the elder, “what is to be done?” That is a question more easily and more frequently asked than satisfactorily answered. It was altogether unanswerable in the present case. Sir George Aimwell was not at all disposed to pursue the fugitives, and such a pursuit was not a fit excursion for Lady Aimwell. As for sending domestic servants after so fierce and gallant a man as Colonel Crop, that was quite out of the question. The baronet’s whole establishment would be insufficient to cope with the powerful arm of the gallant colonel. While they were yet talking and meditating on various plans which might be adopted if they possessed the means, an important addition was made to the party, by the unexpected entrance of Mr Glossop himself. For the anxious father, thinking that his daughter would be safest in his own keeping, had made a journey to Neverden for the purpose of accompanying the young lady on her return home.