“Betty lass,” exclaimed my Lady Herminia, surveying her handsome features in the travelling-mirror, “Old Drury hath lost a notable and vastly clever actress in me! I ha’ played the innocent country wench to such infinite perfection of admiration that the poor fool languishes already ... ogles my charms and talks—of my soul! Oh, a dangerous man, Bet, a wicked wretch—one o’ your soft-spoke, smooth-tongued, dove-eyed, silky, seducing monsters—a very serpent of iniquity, child! But I’m no poor, meek, bread-and-butter miss to be lured to shame or whispered to destruction by any such perfidious and patent villain, not I, Bet!” “Oh no, my lady!” nodded placid Betty. “No, indeed, mam, heaven knows you’m a sight too clever an’ knowin’——” “Knowing, woman! Ha, what d’ye mean by ‘knowing,’ pray?” “La, I don’t know, my lady ... I only know as you know yourself a match for any fine gentleman, villain or no, ever and always, mam——” “’S bud, but I should hope so, Bet, especially this poor creature!” “Aye, to be sure, but ... O my lady, if he be truly dangerous——” “Tush! I know the breed, and forewarned is forearmed. And he mistaketh me for a country simpleton dazzled by his fine airs! So I intend to make it my duty to teach him a shrewd lesson, Betty.” “Yes, mem, but how?” “I intend to lower his pride, girl—to shame him cruelly.” “Why, then, ’tis as good as done, mam. But——” “I’ll drag his insufferable self-esteem in the dust ... through the mud ... trample it ’neath my feet ... make him a mock—a jest and byword.” “I’m sure you will, my lady, but how?” “How, Bet? Why, by running away with him to begin with, for sure.” “O mem!” ejaculated Betty, lifting imploring hands. “O my dear lady——” “Woman, don’t wail—’tis useless! I regard this as a sacred duty, girl!” “But ... O lud, my lady ... think o’ your ladyship’s good name ... the scandal——” “One must be prepared to suffer in the high cause of duty, Betty child ... and, besides, my name will be Rose Ashton!” “But, O my lady, if you run away—what o’ me?” “You will proceed towards Paris in the coach as I ha’ told you, child! You will be quite safe with Giles and the footmen. And this minds me, the coach should be ready, and the sooner you start the better. Go down and bid Giles prepare for the road immediately. Stay, you cannot in all that finery! We’ll send Rose instead!” And away sped my lady accordingly, quite deaf to Betty’s reproachful wailings.