Marie remained respectfully waiting, with a tight French smile on her intelligent face.
'Oh, I know what it was. Marie, I want you to look after certain things for me here—anyhow, at present. I want you to tell the cook that I want tea at four o'clock. Oh no, it's half-past four—well, at five. And there's something I particularly want for tea. What is it?' she asked, looking at Edith. Immediately answering herself she said: 'I know, I want muffins.'
'Madame want "nuffing"?' said Marie.
'No, no, no! Don't be so stupid. It's an English thing, Marie; you wouldn't understand. Something I've forgotten to tell the cook about. It's so cosy I always think in the winter in London. It always cheers me up. You know, what is it?… I know—muffins—muffins!' she said the word carefully to the French maid.
Edith came to the rescue.
'Tell the cook,' she said, 'for madame, that she wants some muffins for tea.'
'Oh, oui. Ah, oui, bien, madame. Merci, madame.'
As the maid was going away Lady Conroy called out:
'Oh, tell the cook it doesn't matter. I won't have them today.'
'Bien, madame.'