Disappointed, Mary Kate took a message dubiously. It was teemin' rain out of the sky, she said.
"If the Masther hears it goin' out, Miss, he'll destroy us," said Mary Kate with resignation. "So I'll find some that'll ride a bicycle."
Then Gheena lighted her own fire and waited breathlessly until Mrs. Weston's presence was announced.
"She is waitin' on ye in the ould school-room. She would not come up, Miss Gheena, not a step."
After Gheena had got down, an excited clacking of tongues rose so high, that Mr. Freyne came along the passage and severely censured Maria, the second housemaid, for having lighted an extra fire in the school-room.
As she rushed down Gheena met Stafford, and all but knocked him over.
"It's Violet; she wouldn't come up," panted Gheena, rushing on.
After quite a short time Mrs. Weston drove off again, with her usual bright smile changed to a frown of thought and her lips pressed into a line.
Gheena was quiet that evening. She took very little tea and she was remotely civil to Stafford, instead of snapping at him in her wonted fashion. Lancelot she waited on patiently.
But when the order for sixty pounds for the grey came, it was made out in Gheena's name, and she said she would go to Cortra to cash it; there might be difficulties otherwise.