“Yes, ma’am,” said Pina, unable to recover from her astonishment; “but London is a biggish willage, and I didn’t expect to see him, much less hear him called Killchristian. Howsever, I think, begging of your pardon, ma’am, as the name suits him very well. ’Deed it’s much of a muchness with the other name, for I reckon as lions kills Christians, and eats ’em too, whenever they get a chance!” “Pina, you hurt me when you speak in that way of Lenny’s father.” (A less gentle spirit would have said to her servant “you _offend_ me.” But Drusilla had much more tenderness than dignity in her nature and manners.) “I am sorry, ma’am. Indeed, ma’am, I would rather bite off the end of my tongue than let it say anything to hurt you,” replied Pina. “Now notice then, my good girl. It may happen that you may see Mr. Lyon some time when you are out with little Lenny. If you should, you must not avoid him. On the contrary, take the child to him. It will be good to promote affection between the child and his father.” “I will do as you say, ma’am.” Drusilla then went into the parlor to join her friends at dinner. But she said nothing of Lenny’s adventure. “This evening,” said General Lyon, “we go to old classic Drury Lane. And to-morrow for the Derby.” Drusilla’s heart beat—but her only, or at least her chief object in going to the Derby was not to see the great race, but to see perhaps—her beloved husband. CHAPTER XV. THE DERBY. I have set my life upon a cast, And I will abide the hazard of the die—SHAKESPEARE. “Oh, it is drizzling! I wonder if it is not always drizzling in this whimpering climate,” grumbled Anna, as she met Drusilla in their private parlor very early on the morning of the Derby Day. “It is but a light drizzle; it will not hurt us and it may clear off,” suggested Drusilla, hopefully. “All ready, my darlings? That is right, for we must make an early start if we wish to get a good position on the hill. I don’t know that reserved places are ever taken in advance for the Derby; but I do know that _we_ have not secured any. Ring for breakfast, Anna, my child, and let us have it over. But where is Dick?” inquired the General, as he joined his young people. “He has stepped around to the livery stable to make sure of the barouche we engaged. He will be back in a few minutes,” replied Anna. “He might have left that to the servants; but Dick can’t keep out of a stable, if only he has the faintest shadow of an excuse to go into one. Well—he might go into worse places,” said the General, just as the absentee returned. “A strong, well sprung, capacious barouche and a fine pair of horses! Altogether as good a turn-out as is to be had for love or money,” said Dick, as he threw himself into a chair. “But what is that you have there?” inquired the General, pointing to a well-sized parcel rolled up in tissue paper which Mr. Hammond carried in his hands.