Alcot's chill, and the despatch
of Cliffe to Hill Street. "Horrid bore to have to put it off! Hope he
got there in time to stop Lady Kitty getting ready. Oh, thanks,
Madeleine's all right."
And then no more, as the rush of the crowd swept them apart.
After that, sleep had wholly deserted Lady Tranmore--if, indeed, after
the publication of the cabinet list in the afternoon, and William's
letter following upon it, any had been still possible. And in the early
morning she had sent her note to Kitty--a
ballon d'essai, despatched
in a horror of great fear.
"Her ladyship has not yet returned." The message from Hill Street,
delivered by the footman's indifferent mouth, struck Lady Tranmore with
trembling.
"Where is William?" she said to herself, in anguish. "I must find
him--but--what shall I say to him?" Then she went up-stairs, and,
without calling for her maid, put on her walking things with shaking
hands.
She slipped out unobserved by her household, and took a hansom from the
corner of Grosvenor Street. In the hansom she carefully drew down her
veil, with the shrinking of one on whom disgrace--the long pursuing,
long expected--has seized at last.
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