“Please, lidy,” she said with a loud sniff, “that lidy what walks like a police-officer is a-straddlin’ on the mat outside.”
She jerked her thumb over her shoulder towards the door behind her:
“I’ve forgot her name,” she went on. “I’ve showed her up, because it’s such a leg-aching grind a-goin’ down and up them stairs twice—but I’ll show her down again if yer don’t want to be bothered with her—and Master Oliver all of a heap too!... I did give her a hint as it was the small-pox likely enough—and I can easy work up the idea——”
The gift was pushed forward by the door opening behind her, and Emma Hartroff entered the room, her hands thrust in the side-pockets of her long jacket.
She greeted Caroline breezily:
“Hullo, Mrs. Baddlesmere—how are you all?... I could hear every word the little slavey said.... I thought I might come and worry Noll a bit—may I?”
Caroline had risen, and came forward to greet her.
“Yes, Miss Hartroff—of course you may.”
“I’m so glad—I was so afraid they’d send me away.”
Caroline, as she shook hands, whispered to her: