Had not the weather been so bad,
Alethea said she should have come to take leave of her New Court
friends on Tuesday, but she could now only send this note to tell
them how sorry she was to go without seeing them, and to beg Emily to
send back a piece of music which she had lent to her. The messenger
was Faith Longley, who was to accompany them, and who now was going
home to take leave of her mother, and would call again for the music
in a quarter of an hour. Lily ran to ask her when they were to go.
'At eleven,' was the answer; and Lily telling her she need not call
again, as she herself would bring the music, went to look for it.
High and low did she seek, and so did Jane, but it was not to be
found in any nook, likely or unlikely; and when at last Lily, in
despair, gave up the attempt to find it, it was already a quarter to
eleven. Emily sent many apologies and civil messages, and Lily set
out at a rapid pace to walk to Broomhill by the road, for the thaw
had rendered the fields impassable. Fast as she walked, she was too
late. She had the mortification of seeing the carriage turn out at
the gates, and take the Raynham road; she was not even seen, nor had
she a wave of the hand, or a smile to comfort her.
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