After thinking over the situation, I determined to go to my uncle's
house. As I had suspected, Frances was not there. After greeting Sir
Richard and Sarah, I asked them, as though speaking by the way, when they
had seen Frances.
"She hasn't been home for a week or more," answered Sir Richard.
"I wish she would make haste in choosing a husband, or in wheedling
one to choose her," remarked Sarah. "I'll beat her in the race if she
doesn't. If I should, I might furnish a new saw to the world: 'The suitor
is not always to the beautiful, nor the husband to the soft of tongue.' I
have a gallant."
"So I have suspected of late," I answered.
"Yes, you're right--John Churchill," answered Sarah.
"He is a fine man," I returned.
"Yes," replied Sarah, apparently very serious, though there was a twinkle
in her eye. "But I'm not sure of him yet." Then with a sigh: "I would
that I were. If he knows what is for his own good, he'll speak soon, as
I intend to make a duke of him before he dies, and the sooner we get at
it the better. A sensible conscience, prepense to its own interest, a
good courtier, and a shrewd wife have made many a duke of far poorer
material than my John."
I laughed, and Sir Richard smiled, but we each seemed to feel that
Sarah's words were prophetic, and the future bore us out, as all the
world knows.
After waiting in my uncle's parlor an hour or more, hoping that Frances
would arrive, I took my leave and walked down to the Old Swan, where I
found her.
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