She
took him up to London, and a nursemaid--not me, you may be quite
sure--took him out. She went into a big shop, and the child was by her
side. She kept him standing by her as she ordered some things across
the counter, and, I suppose, she turned her head for a minute, for
when she looked round again he was gone. From that day to this he was
never heard of, though everything you can think of was done. Oh, my
poor, poor mistress, what she did suffer!"
"Hannah, how excited you look!" said Primrose. "Why, you are all
trembling. It is a terrible story, but as I say to Daisy about Mr.
Dove, don't let us think of it."
"Right you are, honey," said Hannah; "what can't be cured, you know.
If you don't mind, Miss Primrose, I'll just sit down for a minute. I'm
not to say quite myself. Oh, it ain't nothing, dearie; just a bit of
the trembles, and to prove to old Hannah that she is getting on in
years. I nursed you all, darling--him, my beautiful boy, and you
three. Miss Primrose, dear, how old would you say that Mr. Noel was.
I didn't have a fair look at him until to-day, and he seems quite a
young sort of man."
"Miss Egerton says that he is twenty-six, Hannah.
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