"Ring the bell, Sir Christopher!" repeated the lady in a still more authoritative tone, as she looked daggers—nay, regular bayonets—at her miserable husband.
The knight rang the bell accordingly, gulping down a sigh—a very profound sigh—at the same time.
A footman answered the summons.
"John!" said the mistress of the house.
"Yes, my lady," was the reply.
"Tell Mrs. Bodkin to step up—immediately," added the wife of Sir Christopher's rash choice.
"Yes, my lady;"—and the footman disappeared, thanking his stars that he was not "in for it,"—the bad humour of his mistress being very evident indeed.
In due time Mrs. Bodkin made her appearance, in the shape of a stout, matronly-looking female, "of a certain age," as a housekeeper ought to be;—for Mrs. Bodkin was neither more nor less than that high female functionary in the establishment.
"Mrs. Bodkin!" said Lady Blunt, endeavouring to distort her really pretty face into as stern an expression as possible.
"Yes, my lady," returned the housekeeper.