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better of her sense of propriety。 The tone of the letter was
feverish； and the handwriting wandered crookedly up and down in
deplorable freedom from all proper restraint。
〃Oh； Mr。 Armadale〃 （wrote the major's daughter）； 〃such a
misfortune！ What _are_ we to do？ Papa has got a letter from
grandmamma this morning about the new governess。 Her reference
has answered all the questions； and she's ready to come at the
shortest notice。 Grandmamma thinks （how provoking！） the sooner
the better； and she says we may expect herI mean the
governesseither to…day or to…morrow。 Papa says （he _will_ be so
absurdly considerate to everybody！） that we can't allow Miss
Gwilt to come here （if she comes to…day） and find nobody at home
to receive her。 What is to be done？ I am ready to cry with
vexation。 I have got the worst possible impression （though
grandmamma says she is a charming person） of Miss Gwilt。 _Can_
you suggest something； dear Mr。 Armadale？ I'm sure papa would
give way if you could。 Don't stop to write； send me a message
back。 I have got a new hat for the picnic； and oh； the agony of
not knowing whether I am to keep it on or take it off。 Yours
truly； E。 M。〃
〃The devil take Miss Gwilt！〃 said Allan； staring at his legal
adviser in a state of helpless consternation。
〃With all my heart； sirI don't wish to interfere；〃 remarked
Pedgift Junior。 〃May I ask what's the matter？〃
Allan told him。 Mr。 Pedgift the younger might have his faults；
but a want of quickness of resource was not among them。
〃There's a way out of the difficulty； Mr。 Armadale；〃 he said。 〃If
the governess comes today； let's have her at the picnic。〃
Allan's eyes opened wide in astonishment。
〃All the horses and carriages in the Thorpe Ambrose stables are
not wanted for this small party of ours；〃 proceeded Pedgift
Junior。 〃Of course not！ Very good。 If Miss Gwilt comes to…day；
she can't possibly get here before five o'clock。 Good again。 You
order an open carriage to be waiting at the major's door at that
time； Mr。 Armadale； and I'll give the man his directions where to
drive to。 When the governess comes to the cottage； let her find a
nice little note of apology （along with the cold fowl； or
whatever else they give her after her journey） begging her to
join us at the picnic； and putting a carriage at her own sole
disposal to take her there。 Gad； sir！〃 said young Pedgift； gayly；
〃she _must_ be a Touchy One if she thinks herself neglected after
that！〃
〃Capital！〃 cried Allan。 〃She shall have every attention。 I'll
give her the pony…chaise and the white harness； and she shall
drive herself； if she likes。〃
He scribbled a line to relieve Miss Milroy's apprehensions； and
gave the necessary orders for the pony…chaise。 Ten minutes later；
the carriages for the pleasure party were at the door。
〃Now we've taken all this trouble about her；〃 said Allan；
reverting to the governess as they left the house； 〃I wonder； if
she does come today； whether we shall see her at the picnic！〃
〃Depends； entirely on her age； sir；〃 remarked young Pedgift；
pronouncing judgment with the happy confidence in himself which
eminently distinguished him。 〃If she's an old one； she'll be
knocked up with the journey； and she'll stick to the cold fowl
and the cottage。 If she's a young one； either I know nothing of
women； or the pony in the white harness will bring her to the
picnic。〃
They started for the major's cottage。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE NORFOLK BROADS。
THE little group gathered together in Major Milroy's parlor to
wait for the carriages from Thorpe Ambrose would hardly have
conveyed the idea； to any previously uninstructed person
introduced among them； of a party assembled in expectation of a
picnic。 They were almost dull enough； as far as outward
appearances went； to have been a party assembled in expectation
of a marriage。
Even Miss Milroy herself； though conscious； of looking her best
in her bright muslin dress and her gayly feathered new hat； was
at this inaus picious moment Miss Milroy under a cloud。 Although
Allan's note had assured her； in Allan's strongest language； that
the one great object of reconciling the governess's arrival with
the celebration of the picnic was an object achieved； the doubt
still remained whether the plan proposedwhatever it might
bewould meet with her father's approval。 In a word； Miss Milroy
declined to feel sure of her day's pleasure until the carriage
made its appearance and took her from the door。 The major； on his
side； arrayed for the festive occasion in a tight blue frock…coat
which he had not worn for years； and threatened with a whole long
day of separation from his old friend and comrade the clock； was
a man out of his element； if ever such a man existed yet。 As for
the friends who had been asked at Allan's requestthe widow lady
（otherwise Mrs。 Pentecost） and her son （the Reverend Samuel） in
delicate healthtwo people less capable； apparently of adding to
the hilarity of the day could hardly have been discovered in the
length and breadth of all England。 A young man who plays his part
in society by looking on in green spectacles； and listening with
a sickly smile； may be a prodigy of intellect and a mine of
virtue； but he is hardly； perhaps； the right sort of man to have
at a picnic。 An old lady afflicted with deafness； whose one
inexhaustible subject of interest is the subject of her son； and
who （on the happily rare occasions when that son opens his lips）
asks everybody eagerly； 〃What does my boy say？〃 is a person to be
pitied in respect of her infirmities； and a person to be admired
in respect of her maternal devotedness； but not a person； if the
thing could possibly be avoided； to take to a picnic。 Such a man；
nevertheless； was the Reverend Samuel Pentecost； and such a woman
was the Reverend Samuel's mother； and in the dearth of any other
producible guests； there they were； engaged to eat； drink； and be
merry for the day at Mr。 Armadale's pleasure party to the Norfolk
Broads。
The arrival of Allan； with his faithful follower； Pedgift Junior；
at his heels； roused the flagging spirits of the party at the
cottage。 The plan for enabling the governess to join the picnic；
if she arrived that day； satisfied even Major Milroy's anxiety to
show all proper attention to the lady who was coming into his
house。 After writing the necessary note of apology and
invitation； and addressing it in her very best handwriting to the
new governess； Miss Milroy ran upstairs to say good…by to her
mother； and returned with a smiling face and a side look of
relief directed at her father； to announce that there was nothing
now to keep any of them a moment longer indoors。 The company at
once directed their steps to the garden gate； and were there met
face to face by the second great difficulty of the day。 How were
the six persons of the picnic to be divided between the two open
carriages that were in waiting for them？
Here； again； Pedgift Junior exhibited his invaluable faculty of
contrivance。 This highly cultivated young man possessed in an
eminent degree an accomplishment more or less peculiar to all the
young men of the age we live in： he was perfectly capable o