"Very well."
The subject was dropped; Mattie felt herself in disgrace, and, intensely sorrowful at heart, she went down-stairs to tell Ann Packet all that her carelessness had brought upon her.
"He's an old savage, my dear—don't mind him."
"No, Ann—he's a dear old friend, and his anger is just enough. It was all my fault!"
"Well, he's not such a bad master as he might be, pr'aps; but he isn't what he used to be before my ankles took to swelling, nothing like it."
"It will soon blow over, I hope," said Mattie.
"Bless your heart!—puffed away in a breath, it'll be."
Mattie, ever ready to console others, received consolation in her turn; and hoped for the best.
Late in the evening, Mr. Wesden departed, and early next day, much to Mattie's surprise, Harriet Wesden, with a box or two, arrived in a cab to the house.
Mattie watched the entrance of the boxes, and looked very closely into the face of the young mistress. Harriet, with a smile that was well got up for the occasion, advanced to her.