They wrangled for ten minutes; in the end Heloise gained a victory for principle.
CHAPTER XXVII
Eleanor came furtively in search of her mistress and found her in Gordon’s room, valiantly overhauling his wardrobe.
“The clergyman, miss,” she said, with an air of mystery that was natural.
The well-trained servant has an air appropriate to the calling of every visitor. Dread and a funereal solemnity for doctors, a primness for elderly ladies, a suppressed blitheness to announce the young, mystery for the clergy; only a lawyer baffles interpretation. The secret dispositions of lawyers have never been probed.
“The clergyman!” Diana’s heart fell.
“A priest, ma’am, by his clothes,” said Eleanor.
She was a Primitive Methodist and was secretly thrilled by priests and nuns.
Not before had Diana considered Mr. Dempsi’s sectarian leanings. Nor had she before had sufficient confidence to meet the man whom she guessed had been sent by Dempsi to arrange the details of her servitude.
“I will come down,” she said, and took the card from Eleanor’s hand.