'Pretty middling, sir.'
'Go and put it up, then. What are you about on it for?'
'It'll be time enough to put it up after dinner, sir. I must wait at table to-night, the parlour-maid is out.'
The atmosphere in the hall became suddenly arctic. I shivered as the cold of it blew into me. I could feel Ross looking through Sam as he asked coldly,—
'Did you intend to say "must" to me, Brown?' And Brown said,—
'No, sir,' and did not appear at dinner. I sent him up a book and two Cox's oranges, so I had to continue 'My 'Ilda's' education in the art of waiting.
As she handed the soup she decorated each plate with a beautiful scallop like a flannel petticoat. I suppose it is difficult to keep liquid level and walk at the same time. She had put no fish forks on the table, so I said reprovingly,—
'What are we to eat the fish with, Hilda?'
'Oh, whatever you like, Mrs Ellsley,' she said brightly. Ross drank some water hurriedly. I endeavoured to make my meaning clearer and to keep my face straight at the same time, whereupon 'My 'Ilda' said,—
'I do like being here; you don't mind how many mistakes I make so long as I do it right.'