Maria stared at her as though she thought she had taken leave of her senses. “Miss!” she managed to ejaculate. “A dirty little climbing-boy?”
“When he has been bathed,” said Arabella quietly, “he will not be dirty. I shall need plenty of warm water, and the bath, if you please. But first a fire, and some milk and food for the poor child!”
The affronted handmaid bridled. “I hope, miss, you do not expect me to wash that nasty little creature! I’m sure I don’t know what her ladyship would say to such goings-on!”
“No,” said Arabella, “I expect nothing from you that I might expect from a girl with a more feeling heart than yours! Go and do what I have asked you to do, and desire Becky to come upstairs to me!”
“Becky?” gasped Maria.
“Yes, the girl who had the toothache. And when you have brought up food—some bread-and-butter, and some meat will do very well, but do not forget the milk!—you may send someone to tell Lord Bridlington that I wish to see him at once.”
Maria gulped, and stammered: “But, miss, his lordship is abed and asleep!”
“Well, let him be wakened!” said Arabella impatiently.
“Miss, I dare not for my life! His orders were no one wasn’t to disturb him till nine o’clock, and he won’t come, not till he has shaved himself, and dressed, not his lordship!”
Arabella considered the question, and finally came to the conclusion that it might be wiser to dispense with his lordship’s assistance for the time being. “Very well,” she said, “I will dress immediately, then, and see the sweep myself. Tell him to wait!”