She gathered her babe to her throbbing heart and thought, to-day she was to go out and meet her husband's people. How should she go? How should she conduct herself? Should she go at once, or wait until the afternoon? Why had she not written her name fully in the travellers' book? What mysterious foreboding had caught her fingers and stayed them at her maiden name? Was she afraid? When she arose, she found herself trembling from head to foot, and called for her breakfast, before bathing and dressing her little son. The same pretty maid brought it, and came again, while Cassandra bathed and nursed her baby, to set the room to rights. "Shan't I unpack your box for you now, ma'm?" And, without waiting for a reply, she took out Cassandra's clothing, pausing now and then to admire and pet the lovely boy. Her simple friendliness pleased Cassandra, who was minded to ask some of the questions which were burdening her. "When do people make visits here, in the morning or afternoon?" "That depends, ma'm." "How do you mean? I'm a stranger in England, you know." "Yes, ma'm. If they make polite visits, they go about tea time, ma'm. But if it's parish visits, or on business, or on people they know very well, they may go in the morning, ma'm." "And when is tea time here?" "Why, ma'm, everybody has their tea in the afternoon along four or thereabouts, and sees their friends." "Can I get a carriage here, do you know?" "I can get a pony carriage, ma'm. We hires it when we need it, only we must speak for it early, or it may be taken." "Oh! Then will you please speak for it soon? I would like to have it." "Yes, ma'm. Will you drive yourself, ma'm, or shall I ask for a boy?" "Oh! I don't know. I can drive--but--" "They are gentle ponies, ma'm. Any one can drive them." "Yes, but I don't know the way." "Yes, ma'm. Where would you like to go, ma'm?" "To Daneshead Castle." The bright-cheeked maid opened her round eyes wider and looked at Cassandra with new interest. "But, ma'm,--that is quite far, though the ponies are smart, too." "How far is it?" "It's quite a bit away from here, ma'm; you'd have to start at two or thereabouts. I could take you myself if mother would let me, and tell you all the interesting places, but"--the girl looked at her shrewdly, a quickly withdrawn glance--"that depends on how well acquainted you are there, ma'm. Maybe you'd like better to have a man drive, and just let me go along to mind the baby for you." "Yes, I would," said Cassandra, gladly. "Thank you. I'll run for the ponies now, ma'm." Cassandra heard her boots clatter rapidly down the wooden stairs at the back of the house, and presently saw her dashing across the inn yard, bareheaded and with her bare arms rolled in her apron.