Ida wondered why he had been to the Hall, but concluded that he had gone there with some message about the farm produce.
When she rode into the stable-yard, she saw Jessie and Jason standing by the small hall door and talking eagerly, and Jessie came forward, and taking a letter from under her apron, held it out with a smile.
"It's just come from the Villa, Miss Ida," she said.

"And oh, miss, what I told you this morning--it's quite true.

It was Mr.Stafford's own groom as brought the note, and he says that his master is engaged to Miss Falconer, and that the whole place is in excitement over it.

He was as proud as Punch, Miss Ida; for he says that his new mistress is terrible rich as well as beautiful, and that there'll be the grandest of grand doings up there." The blood rushed to Ida's face for a moment, then faded, and she slipped the note into the pocket of her habit and laughed.

For it sounded too ridiculous, too incredible to cause her even a shadow of annoyance.