A neat but severe-looking servant answered Janet's rather determined ring. She scowled at Sophy, but replied civilly to Janet's inquiry if Miss Simpkins was at home.
"Yes, miss," she replied; "my missus is in her morning room, very particularly occupied."
"I should like to see her for a few minutes," said Janet.
"I am afraid, miss, that if you have come on behalf of that young lady, the late companion, that you may spare yourself the trouble, for the missus won't have nothing to say to her nor her belongings."
"I have come on that business," said Janet. "I am much shocked at what has occurred, and have come to offer apologies. My sister, Miss May, has behaved with great indiscretion."
Poor Sophy gasped.
Janet did not pay the smallest heed to Sophy's indignant expression. Her smooth young face looked full of shocked virtue. It impressed the servant, who nodded back a sympathetic reply, and telling the girls to wait a minute, walked sedately across the hall and into the morning room.
She returned in a few moments with the information that Miss Simpkins would see the younger of the young ladies.
"I can put you, Miss May," she said, turning to Sophy, "into the hall room while the other young lady talks to my missus."