As little as I liked the idea, I felt compelled, as hostess, to be up in time to see my guests off in the morning. They both appeared rather surprised, and not a little discomfited, when I came to say goodbye. Elizabeth was first to recover. 

 'Dear Lady Hardley,' she gushed, 'how kind of you to rise so early, simply to bid us farewell. Yet I should have expected it. You are always so attentive and obliging.'

 Emma made a sound perilously close to a snort. But, of the two, I suddenly liked her the better for her openness. Her companion's new affected friendliness nauseated me. Indeed, perhaps Emma felt the same, for she said,

 'Elizabeth, why don't you go and oversee the cases being packed into the carriage?'

 'Surely the servants can manag...

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