“Nea, nea! He wunna coom a-nigh this house. He coomed here too often in t’ owd time. Nea, nea! He wunna coom inside noo.”
“Howd tha tunge, Sal,” said the lad, quickly. “Thoo’d get thaself int’ trouble wi’ t’ vicar if he heerd tha prattlin’ so o’ ’s brither.”
Whereupon the old woman fell to incoherent mumbling, and the lad having discharged his load, saluted the young lady again, and drove away. With a pleasant sense upon her that help, ready and efficient, was indeed come at last, Olivia went indoors again, and, directed by the sounds of active sweeping, and at least as active chattering, found her way to the best bedroom in this part of the house, which the exertions of the two maids were quickly rendering habitable. They had brought with them even a large scuttleful of coals, and a supply of candles. In half an hour the room was swept, a fire lighted, carpet laid down, and two little beds and a suite of bedroom furniture disposed to the best advantage.
“Mr. Vernon said we was only to fit up one bedroom, ma’am, as you’d be sure to want your maid to sleep in the same room with you in this big empty house, miss,” said the elder and more responsible of the servants.
“Yes, that is quite true,” answered Miss Denison promptly.
“And as soon as we had done this room we was to sweep out the big one downstairs.”
“Oh,” said Miss Denison, “you need not do that. One room is plenty for us to go on with, and I don’t wish you to have the trouble of doing any more.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble, ma’am. And those were Mr. Vernon’s orders. And when the master and missus is away, we have orders to do just as Mr. Vernon says, exactly as if he was master. You see, master thinks such a deal of Mr. Vernon.”
Here was another instance of the strange enthusiasm for Mr. Vernon Brander which he seemed to excite equally with the most violent antagonism.
“I wouldn’t ha’ come here by myself though; not if Mr. Vernon had ordered me ever so; no, and not if master and Mrs. Brander hadn’t ordered me too, that I wouldn’t!” broke in the younger maid with decision.