"The dinner will be served in an hour, me leddy. Will I bring your leddyship a cup of tea before you begin to dress?" inquired the housekeeper.
"If you please, you may send it to me by one of my own women. You are too aged to walk up and down stairs," replied Claudia kindly.
"Hech, sirs! I'm e'en reddy to haud me ain wi' any lassie i' the house," said she, nodding her tall, flapping white sap.
"Will you tell me your name, that I may know in future what to call you?" Claudia asked.
"It's e'en just Mistress Murdock, at your leddyship's bidding. And now I'll gae bring the tea."
"Send my servant Katie to me at the same time," said Lady Vincent, who, when she was left alone, turned again to view the magnificence that surrounded her.
"If ever I spend another autumn on this bleak coast, I shall take care to fill the castle halls and chambers with gay company," she said to herself.
The housekeeper entered with an elegant little tea-service of gold plate, and set it on a stand of mosaic work, by Claudia's side.
While she was drinking her tea Katie entered, smiling with both her eyes and all her teeth.
"Well, my ladyship, ma'am, this looks like life at last; don't it, though?"