Donica looked at her mistress as if expecting something more; and her mistress looked away darkly, and said nothing.
"I'll return, my lady, I suppose, and tell you what Miss Jane says, ma'am?"
"Do," answered Lady Alice, and, closing her eyes, she made a sharp nod, which Donica knew was a signal of dismissal.
Old Gwynn, mounting the stairs, met Mrs. Sinnott with those keys of office which she had herself borne for so many years.
"Well, Mrs. Sinnott, ma'am, how's the master now?" she inquired.
"Doctor's not bin yet from Slowton, Mrs. Gwynn; we don't know nothink only just what you heard this morning from Mr. Tomlinson."
"Old Pratt, baint he here neither?"
"No, but the nurse be come."
"Oh! respeckable, I hope? But no ways, Mrs. Sinnott, ma'am, take my advice, and on no account don't you give her her will o' the bottle; there's none o' them hospital people but likes it—jest what's enough, and no more, I would say."
"Oh! no! no!" answered Mrs. Sinnott, scornfully. "I knows somethink o' them sort, too—leave 'em to me."