"But they will," said Cardo, laughing, "if you are the culprit who tries to divide us. You don't know how fierce I can be."
"Please, sir, can I take the tea-things now?"
"On condition that you come back at once. No, let me carry them out for you, dearest; you shall not begin by waiting upon me."
"Oh, but I must, Cardo, for old Mrs. Finch goes home when she has brought the tea in always."
And she laughed merrily at Cardo's clumsy efforts at clearing away. As she opened the door into the passage a tremendous roaring and snorting filled the air.
"What on earth is that?" said Cardo.
"It is my uncle snoring, and if you dropped that tray (which I am afraid you will) the clatter wouldn't awake him."
"Good old man! let him rest, then. You are not going to wash up those things?"
"No, Mrs. Finch will do that in the morning. And now, Cardo, I must do what my uncle told me to do," she said, as they returned into the cosy parlour, glowing with the light of the blazing fire; and, holding up her dress with her two fingers, she made a prim little curtsey, and said:
"I hope your tea has been to your liking, sir? And now for the rest of my duty. Here is his jar of tobacco, and here is the kettle on the hob, and here is the bottle of whisky, and here are the slippers which I had prepared for you."