“To help me dress?” she repeated, Jane regarding her with wide open eyes the while. “Why should she do that? I have always dressed myself ever since I can remember.”
Mrs. Davenant flushed nervously.
“I—meant to brush your hair and tie your ribbons—as she does mine; but it does not matter if you would rather not have her.”
“I should not like to trouble her,” said Una.
“And how long have you been up, my dear?”
“Since five,” said Una, quietly.
Mrs. Davenant stared aghast, and Jane nearly dropped the hair-brush.
“Since five! My dear child! Ah! I see, you—you have been used to rising early. I am afraid you will soon lose that good habit. We Londoners don’t rise with the lark.”
“I don’t think there are any larks here,” remarked Una, gravely; “and at this time of the year the lark begins to sing at four. I have often watched him rise from his nest in the grass.”
“My poor child, you will miss the country so much.”