Suddenly they heard the noise of a chair being pushed back inside
the house, and knew that Madame was getting ready to go. They moved
simultaneously towards the door, but in the porch Gaston paused for
a moment, and caught Kitty by the arm.
'Bebe,' he whispered softly, 'when Madame is gone I am going down
the hill to Ballarat, so you will walk with me a little way, will
you not?'
Of course, Kitty was only too delighted at being asked to do so, and
readily consented, then ran quickly into the house, followed by
Vandeloup.
'You here?' cried Madame, in surprise, pausing for a moment in the
act of putting on her bonnet. 'Why are you not at the theatre?'
'I am going, Madame,' replied Gaston, calmly, 'but I thought I would
come up in order to assist you to put the nugget in the trap.'
'Oh, Mr Marchurst would have done that,' said Madame, much gratified
at Vandeloup's attention. 'I'm sorry you should miss your evening's
pleasure for that.'
'Ah, Madame, I do but exchange a lesser pleasure for a greater one,'
said the gallant Frenchman, with a pleasant smile; 'but are you sure
you will not want me to drive you home?'
'Not at all,' said Madame, as they all went outside; 'I am quite
safe.'
'Still, with this,' said Mr Marchurst, bringing up the rear, with
the nugget now safely placed in its wooden box, 'you might be
robbed.'
'Not I,' replied Mrs Villiers, brightly, as the horse and trap were
brought round to the gate by Brown.
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