In confirmation of the startling fact Wat, who had had a special invitation from the Marquis, was sitting in the phaeton in his best black velvet coat. Jane only hoped that Emily would not look out of the window, or she would certainly go into fits on seeing them arrive with the old phaeton, the thick-legged cart-horse, and Wat Greenwood for a driver; and Reginald, after much growling at Maurice, much bawling at William’s door, and, as Jane said, romping and roaring in all parts of the house, was forced to be resigned to his fate, and all the way to Hetherington held a very amusing conversation with his good-natured friend the keeper. They were overtaken, nodded to, and passed by the rest of their party. Maurice had been reduced to ride the pony, William came with the Westons, and the chariot load was just as had been before arranged. Claude came out to meet them at the door, saying, ‘I need not have gone so early. What do you think has become of the hero of the day? Guess, I will just give you this hint, “Though on pleasure he was bent, he had no selfish mind.”’ ‘Oh! the Aylmers, I suppose,’ said Lilias. ‘Right, Lily, he heard something at dinner yesterday about a school for clergymen’s sons, which struck him as likely to suit young Devereux Aylmer, and off he set at seven o’clock this morning to Raynham, to breakfast with Mrs. Aylmer, and talk to her about it. Never let me hear again that he is engrossed with his own affairs!’ ‘And why is he in such a hurry?’ asked Lily. ‘’Tis his nature,’ said Claude, ‘besides Travers, who mentioned this school, goes away to-morrow. My aunt is in a fine fright lest he should not come back in time. Did not you hear her telling papa so in the drawing-room?’ ‘There he is, riding up to the door,’ said Phyllis, who had joined them in the hall. Lord Rotherwood stopped for a few moments at the door to give some directions to the servants, and then came quickly in. ‘Ah, there you are!—What time is it? It is all right, Claude—Devereux is just the right age. I asked him a few questions this morning, and he will stand a capital examination. Ha, Phyl, I am glad to see you.’ ‘I wish you many happy returns of the day, Cousin Rotherwood.’ ‘Thank you, Phyl, we had better see how we get through one such day before we wish it to return. Are the rest come?’ He went on into the drawing-room, and hastily informing his mother that he had sent the carriage to fetch Miss Aylmer and her brothers to the feast, called Claude to come out on the lawn to look at the preparations. The bowling-green was to serve as drawing-room, and at one end was pitched an immense tent where the dinner was to be. ‘I say, Claude,’ said he in his quickest and most confused way, ‘I depend upon you for one thing. Do not let the Baron be too near me.’ ‘The Baron of Beef?’ said Claude. ‘No, the Baron of Beechcroft. If you wish my speech to be _radara tadara_, put him where I can imagine that he hears me.’