“ ’Igham Ferrers, your ladyship,” said Hester, dropping a very British curtsy.
“How long have you been in America?”
“A matter of a year, your ladyship.”
“With whom did you live in Higham Ferrers, that you learned to cook so well?”
“With the Laveracks, your ladyship; a grand family, and most hexacting.”
With another curtsy, Hester was gone, and Marjorie, too, for with Jessie and Betty looking at them they felt sure they couldn’t keep from laughing another moment.
“It’s most extraordinary,” said Lady Pendered; “not only that you should have such capable and well-trained servants, but that they should all be such pretty and neat young girls.”
“I trust my servants are always tidy,” said Mrs. Lennox, with great dignity; and then she resolutely changed the subject, and forced the conversation into other channels.
After dinner the ladies went for a stroll on the beach, Millicent and Helen accompanying them, carrying veils, wraps, purses, and other impedimenta.
The rest of the club-members were much annoyed that the two girls had to go, for they had planned to have a hilarious dinner of their own after the more formal meal was over.