The Duke had given directions which made it necessary that Locock's coming should be postponed for a day, and this was another grievance.

She was put out a good deal, and began to speculate whether her husband was doing it on purpose to torment her.
Nevertheless, as soon as she knew that he was out of the way, she went to her work.

She could not go out among the tents and lawns and conservatories, as she would probably meet him.

But she gave orders as to bedchambers, saw to the adornments of the reception-rooms, had an eye to the banners and martial trophies suspended in the vast hall, and the busts and statues which adorned the corners, looked in on the plate which was being prepared for the great dining-room, and superintended the moving about of chairs, sofas, and tables generally.

"You may take it as certain, Mrs.Pritchard," she said to the housekeeper, "that there will never be less than forty for the next two months." "Forty to sleep, my lady ?" To Pritchard the Duchess had for many years been Lady Glencora, and she perhaps understood that her mistress liked the old appellation.
"Yes, forty to sleep, and forty to eat, and forty to drink.