'Why are you sitting here?' said one of them, who was dressed in a plain
suit of black, wore long lank hair, and carried a great cane. 'Why have
you not gone with the rest?'
'I am going, sir,' replied Barnaby, finishing his task, and putting his
hat on with an air of pride. 'I shall be there directly.'
'Say "my lord," young man, when his lordship does you the honour of
speaking to you,' said the second gentleman mildly. 'If you don't know
Lord George Gordon when you see him, it's high time you should.'
'Nay, Gashford,' said Lord George, as Barnaby pulled off his hat again
and made him a low bow, 'it's no great matter on a day like this, which
every Englishman will remember with delight and pride. Put on your hat,
friend, and follow us, for you lag behind and are late. It's past ten
now. Didn't you know that the hour for assembling was ten o'clock?'
Barnaby shook his head and looked vacantly from one to the other.
'You might have known it, friend,' said Gashford, 'it was perfectly
understood. How came you to be so ill informed?'
'He cannot tell you, sir,' the widow interposed. 'It's of no use to ask
him. We are but this morning come from a long distance in the country,
and know nothing of these matters.
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