Agnes had just closed and directed her letter, when the eldest of her
three pupils entered the room with the startling announcement that Lord
Montbarry's travelling-servant had arrived from Paris! Alarmed by the idea
that some misfortune had happened, she ran out to meet the man in the
hall. Her face told him how seriously he had frightened her, before she
could speak.
'There's nothing wrong, Miss,'
he hastened to say.
'My
lord
and my lady are enjoying themselves at Paris. They only want you and the
young ladies to be with them.'
Saying these amazing words, he handed to
Agnes a letter from Lady Montbarry.
