"First me!" said Kezia sharply.
"You'm the eldest. You can take first," said the generous Bessie. Then she inclined her head towards the door and whispered, "Ain't that someone in the hall?"
"'Tis only Miss Nellie," said Kezia. "There's a drop o' cocoa left in the saucepan, Bess."
"I'm sorry us had words today, Kezia," said Bessie, as she took the drop.
"Don't ye say anything more about it. I'm sure the dear missus would walk if she fancied we weren't friendly. But I do wish she hadn't got so forgetful like."
"That ain't Nellie!" cried Bessie, listening again.
"Sounds as if Miss Sophy had got out of bed and fallen down."
"'Twas a bump vor certain. I'm agoing to see," said Bessie, opening the kitchen door.
She advanced along the passage, but was back in a moment.
"The hall door's wide open—and I saw a light from the parlour."