The gorgeously liveried footman let her in—but she thought his look was doubtful. Before she could mount the stairs the foreign maid appeared at the top of the flight.
“Miz Baldwig iz to vait below,” she hissed.
Beth stepped back in surprise. The foreign person disappeared—then reappeared again. She brought a folded note downstairs and extended it at arm’s length to Beth.
“Ze compliments of madam,” said the maid. Beth unfolded and looked at the note, quite stunned. It read:
“Mrs. Severn will not again require Miss Baldwin’s assistance.”
It was written and signed in the upright, old-fashioned hand of the lady herself.
As Beth left the house she almost thought she heard the parrot shrieking after her:
“I don’t care if you never come back!”
CHAPTER XXIII
SUSPICION HOVERS
Fortunate it was that lessons began on Monday, and that there were certain preparations to be made for them. Likewise, there was some work for Beth’s nimble fingers, for some of the girls who had arrived at Rivercliff first, had actually brought their summer’s mending with them.