Pray, excuse me, your ladyship.

I am really not equal--" "I see! I see! Nor am I equal to going through what, at best, would be a mere form," said her ladyship.

Then turning toward the waiting butler, she said--"Remove the service, Sillery.

We shall not dine to-day." The man bowed and withdrew.
And the two watchers, whose anxiety was fast growing into insupportable anguish, waited still, for still, as yet, they could do nothing else but wait and control themselves.
"Your grace has missed the last train," said Lady Belgrade, at length, as the little cuckoo clock on the mantel shelf struck ten.
"Yes the night express leaves London Bridge station for Dover at ten-thirty, and it is a full hour's drive from Kensington," replied the duke.
And both secretly thanked fortune that the wedding guests had all departed before the bride's mysterious absence from the house at such a time had become known; and they knew not but that "the happy pair had left by the tidal train for Dover, _en route_ for their continental tour,"-- as per wedding programme.

And both silently hoped that the household servants would not talk.
The time crept wearily on.