"That being the case, and seeing you really regret your fault, we will say no more about it," Miss Pamela said. "Untidiness is a bad habit, and a difficult one to break off. Your father as a boy was inclined to be very careless, but when he went to boarding-school he was glad that we had insisted on his keeping his things in their right places, and also that we had taught him the advantages of punctuality. I have heard it said that the Duke of Wellington attributed his successes to the fact that he was always in time. I can well understand that disorder and confusion must be distasteful to a great mind."
After tea Marigold slipped upstairs to read her mother's letter again; and whilst she was in the midst of it Barker came in, bearing an armful of clean clothes that had been brought home from the laundry.
"Shall I put your things away for you, miss?" she asked.
"Oh, you need not trouble, thank you, Barker; lay them on the bed, and I'll see to them directly." But Barker still lingered.
"I think I heard you speaking of a Mrs. Adams to Miss Holcroft," she remarked, with curiosity in her tones. "Is it the little old lady who is so friendly with Mrs. Nowell?"
"Yes;" Marigold replied. "Do you know her, Barker?"
"No, miss. But I've heard a deal about her from my mother, who lived with her as a servant—oh, I don't know how many years ago! Mrs. Adams was a young woman then, and mother couldn't have been much older than her mistress."
"Is your mother still alive?" Marigold inquired, with interest in her voice.
"Yes, miss; though she's getting up in years now."
"Oh, do tell me about her, Barker!"