‘Oh! no,’ said Phyllis, ‘those are some Provence roses for Miss Weston and Marianne, because Miss Weston likes those, and they have none at Broomhill. Redgie is going to take care of them. I will get you a nosegay, Frank. I did not know you liked it.’ She started up. ‘How prudent, Phyllis,’ said Eleanor, ‘not to have put on your muslin frock yet.’ ‘Oh! I am not going,’ said Phyllis. ‘Not going!’ was the general outcry. ‘No, poor Ada cries so about being left at home with only baby, that I cannot bear it, and so I promised to stay.’ Away went Phyllis, and Reginald exclaimed, ‘Well, she shall not be served so. I will go and tell Ada so this instant.’ Off he rushed, and putting in his head at the nursery door, shouted, ‘Ada, I am come to tell you that Phyl is not to be made your black-a-moor slave! She shall go, that is settled.’ Down he went with equal speed, without waiting for an answer, and arrived while Eleanor was saying that she thought Ada was provided with amusement with the baby, her playthings, and books, and that Mr. Devereux had promised to make her a visit. ‘Anybody ought to stay at home rather than Phyllis,’ said Lily; ‘I think I had better stay.’ ‘No, no, Lily,’ said Jane, ‘you are more wanted than I am; you are really worth talking to and dancing with; I had much better be at home.’ ‘I forgot!’ exclaimed William. ‘Mrs. Weston desired me to say that she is not going, and she will take care of Ada. Mr. Weston will set her down at half-past ten, and take up one of us.’ ‘I will be that one,’ said Reginald, ‘I have not seen Miss Weston since I came home. I meant to walk to Broomhill after dinner yesterday, only the Baron stopped me about that country-dance. Last Christmas I made her promise to dance with me to-day.’ Lily had hoped to be that one, but she did not oppose Reginald, and turned to listen to Eleanor, who was saying, ‘Let us clearly understand how every one is to go, it will save a great deal of confusion. You and Jane, and Maurice, go in the phaeton, do not you? And who drives you?’ ‘William, I believe,’ said Lily. ‘Claude goes earlier, so he rides the gray. Then there is the chariot for you and Frank, and papa and Phyllis.’ So it was proposed, but matters turned out otherwise. The phaeton, which, with a promoted cart-horse, was rather a slow conveyance, was to set out first, but the whole of the freight was not ready in time. The ladies were in the hall as soon as it came to the door, but neither of the gentlemen were forthcoming. Reginald, who was wandering in the hall, was sent to summon them; but down he came in great wrath. Maurice had declared that he was not ready, and they must wait for him till he had tied his neckcloth, which Reginald opined would take three quarters of an hour, as he was doing it scientifically, and William had said that he was not going in the gig at all, that he had told Wat Greenwood to drive, and that Reginald must go instead of Maurice.