"What made thee think so, Alix? Was it Tuesday night?"
"Tuesday night—the supper? I guessed you had seen to it."
"Why?—was it so very bad?" said I, penitently.
"Bad?—it was carelessness and neglect beyond endurance," she said. "No, I saw the maids wanted the mistress's eye; and Umberge evidently had not given it; and I thought you had tried to throw yourself into the gap, and—as such an inexperienced young thing would—had failed."
I really was pleased when Alix said that.
"Then thou wert not vexed with me, Alix?"
"Not I. You did your best. I was vexed enough with Umberge. I knew she was lazy, but I did not expect her to discredit the house like that."
"She seems quite altered since she came here," I said.
"Ah, you never can tell how people will turn out till you come to live with them," said Alix. "So you are not so very glad, after all, to lose me, little one?"
I was startled, for I never supposed that Alix had guessed that. I did not know what to say.