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time； Mr。 Armadale； and I'll give the man his directions where to
drive to。 When the governess comes to the cottage； let her find a
nice little note of apology （along with the cold fowl； or
whatever else they give her after her journey） begging her to
join us at the picnic； and putting a carriage at her own sole
disposal to take her there。 Gad； sir！〃 said young Pedgift； gayly；
〃she _must_ be a Touchy One if she thinks herself neglected after
that！〃
〃Capital！〃 cried Allan。 〃She shall have every attention。 I'll
give her the pony…chaise and the white harness； and she shall
drive herself； if she likes。〃
He scribbled a line to relieve Miss Milroy's apprehensions； and
gave the necessary orders for the pony…chaise。 Ten minutes later；
the carriages for the pleasure party were at the door。
〃Now we've taken all this trouble about her；〃 said Allan；
reverting to the governess as they left the house； 〃I wonder； if
she does come today； whether we shall see her at the picnic！〃
〃Depends； entirely on her age； sir；〃 remarked young Pedgift；
pronouncing judgment with the happy confidence in himself which
eminently distinguished him。 〃If she's an old one； she'll be
knocked up with the journey； and she'll stick to the cold fowl
and the cottage。 If she's a young one； either I know nothing of
women； or the pony in the white harness will bring her to the
picnic。〃
They started for the major's cottage。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE NORFOLK BROADS。
THE little group gathered together in Major Milroy's parlor to
wait for the carriages from Thorpe Ambrose would hardly have
conveyed the idea； to any previously uninstructed person
introduced among them； of a party assembled in expectation of a
picnic。 They were almost dull enough； as far as outward
appearances went； to have been a party assembled in expectation
of a marriage。
Even Miss Milroy herself； though conscious； of looking her best
in her bright muslin dress and her gayly feathered new hat； was
at this inaus picious moment Miss Milroy under a cloud。 Although
Allan's note had assured her； in Allan's strongest language； that
the one great object of reconciling the governess's arrival with
the celebration of the picnic was an object achieved； the doubt
still remained whether the plan proposedwhatever it might
bewould meet with her father's approval。 In a word； Miss Milroy
declined to feel sure of her day's pleasure until the carriage
made its appearance and took her from the door。 The major； on his
side； arrayed for the festive occasion in a tight blue frock…coat
which he had not worn for years； and threatened with a whole long
day of separation from his old friend and comrade the clock； was
a man out of his element； if ever such a man existed yet。 As for
the friends who had been asked at Allan's requestthe widow lady
（otherwise Mrs。 Pentecost） and her son （the Reverend Samuel） in
delicate healthtwo people less capable； apparently of adding to
the hilarity of the day could hardly have been discovered in the
length and breadth of all England。 A young man who plays his part
in society by looking on in green spectacles； and listening with
a sickly smile； may be a prodigy of intellect and a mine of
virtue； but he is hardly； perhaps； the right sort of man to have
at a picnic。 An old lady afflicted with deafness； whose one
inexhaustible subject of interest is the subject of her son； and
who （on the happily rare occasions when that son opens his lips）
asks everybody eagerly； 〃What does my boy say？〃 is a person to be
pitied in respect of her infirmities； and a person to be admired
in respect of her maternal devotedness； but not a person； if the
thing could possibly be avoided； to take to a picnic。 Such a man；
nevertheless； was the Reverend Samuel Pentecost； and such a woman
was the Reverend Samuel's mother； and in the dearth of any other
producible guests； there they were； engaged to eat； drink； and be
merry for the day at Mr。 Armadale's pleasure party to the Norfolk
Broads。
The arrival of Allan； with his faithful follower； Pedgift Junior；
at his heels； roused the flagging spirits of the party at the
cottage。 The plan for enabling the governess to join the picnic；
if she arrived that day； satisfied even Major Milroy's anxiety to
show all proper attention to the lady who was coming into his
house。 After writing the necessary note of apology and
invitation； and addressing it in her very best handwriting to the
new governess； Miss Milroy ran upstairs to say good…by to her
mother； and returned with a smiling face and a side look of
relief directed at her father； to announce that there was nothing
now to keep any of them a moment longer indoors。 The company at
once directed their steps to the garden gate； and were there met
face to face by the second great difficulty of the day。 How were
the six persons of the picnic to be divided between the two open
carriages that were in waiting for them？
Here； again； Pedgift Junior exhibited his invaluable faculty of
contrivance。 This highly cultivated young man possessed in an
eminent degree an accomplishment more or less peculiar to all the
young men of the age we live in： he was perfectly capable of
taking his pleasure without forgetting his business。 Such a
client as the Master of Thorpe Ambrose fell but seldom in his
father's way； and to pay special but unobtrusive attention to
Allan all through the day was the business of which young
Pedgift； while proving himself to be the life and soul of the
picnic； never once lost sight from the beginning of the
merry…making to the end。 He had detected the state of affairs
between Miss Milroy and Allan at glance； and he at once provided
for his client's inclinations in that quarter by offering； in
virtue of his local knowledge； to lead the way in the first
carriage； and by asking Major Milroy and the curate if they would
do him the honor of accompanying him。
〃We shall pass a very interesting place to a military man； sir；〃
said young Pedgift； addressing the major； with his happy and
unblushing confidence〃the remains of a Roman encampment。 And my
father； sir； who is a subscriber；〃 proceeded this rising lawyer；
turning to the curate； 〃wished me to ask your opinion of the new
Infant School buildings at Little Gill Beck。 Would you kindly
give it me as we go along？〃 He opened the carriage door； and
helped in the major and the curate before they could either of
them start any difficulties。 The necessary result followed。 Allan
and Miss Milroy rode together in the same carriage； with the
extra convenience of a deaf old lady in attendance to keep the
squire's compliments within the necessary limits。
Never yet had Allan enjoyed such an interview with Miss Milroy as
the interview he now obtained on the road to the Broads。
The dear old lady； after a little anecdote or two on the subject
of her son； did the one thing wanting to secure the perfect
felicity of her two youthful companions： she became considerately
blind for the occasion； as well as deaf。 A quarter of an hour
after the carriage left the major's cottage； the poor old soul；
reposing on snug cushions； and fanned by a fine summer air； fell
peaceably asleep。 Allan made love； and Miss Milroy sanctioned the
manufacture of that occasionally precious article of human
commerce； sublimely indifferent on both sides to a solemn bass
accompaniment on two notes； played by the curate's mother's
unsuspecting nose。 The only interruption to the love…making （the
snoring； being a thing more grave and permanent in its nature；
was not interrupted at all） came at intervals from the carriage
ahead。 Not satisfied with having the major's Roman encampment and
the curate's Infant Schools on his mind； Pedgift Junior rose
erect from time to time in his place； and； respectfully hailing
the hindmost vehicle； directed Allan's attention； in a shrill
tenor voice； and with an excellent choice of language； to objects
of interest on the road。 The only way to quiet him was to answer；
which Allan invariably did by shouting back； 〃Yes； beautiful；〃
upon which young Pedgift disappeared again in the recesses of the
leading carriage； and took up the Romans and the Infants where he
had left them last。
The scene through which the picnic party was now passing merited
far more attention than it received either from Allan or Allan's
friends。
An hour's steady driving from the major's cottage had taken young
Armadale and his guests beyond the limits of Midwinter's solitary
walk； and was now bringing them nearer and nearer to one of the
strangest and loveliest aspects of nature which the inland
landscape； not of Norfolk only； but of all England； can show。
Little by little the face of the country began to change as the
carriages approached the remote and lonely district of the
Broads。 The wheat fields and turnip fields became perceptibly
fewer； and the fat green grazing grounds on either side grew
wider and wider in their smooth and sweeping range。 Heaps of dry
rushes and reeds； laid up for the basket…maker and the thatcher；
began to appear at the road…side。 The old gabled cottages of the
early part of the drive dwindled and disappeared； and huts with
mud walls rose in their place。 W