“ I don ’ t wish to hurry you, ladies; but this affair commences at three. ”
“ What affair? ” said Lydia, who had been privately wondering why he had come.
“ The assault-at-arms. King What ’ s-his-name ’ s affair. Webber told me he had arranged that you should come with me. ”
“ Oh, you have come to take us there. I had forgotten. Did I promise to go? ”
“ Webber said so. He was to have taken you himself; but, failing that, he promised to do a good thing for me and put me in his place. He said you particularly wanted to go, hang him! ”
Lydia then rose promptly and sent for her carriage. “ There is no hurry, ” bhe said. “ We can drive to St. James ’ s Hall in twelve minutes. ”
“ Hut we have to go to Islington, to the Agricultural Hall. There will be cavalry charges, and all sorts of fun
