Kitty looked at her out of her saucy eyes.
“We mustn’t forget,” continued Miss Ladislaw, “even while we are working, that we are in God’s house.”
“Oh I beg your pardon,” said Kitty; she did not wish to offend Miss Ladislaw. Anne and Grace evidently intended to be cross to her, but, beyond doubt, they had got out of their scrape; why should she hear the disagreeable particulars? She had her frocks, her silk stockings, her handkerchiefs, all her endless and lovely finery, and Mr. Dodd had paid for them. Oh it was beyond a joke! What a clever girl she was! What fun it would be talking the thing over by-and-by with Miss Weston! She went back again to join her own party.
By this time she was thoroughly at home at Preston Manor. On the whole she liked Jessie, who was the person instrumental in bringing her there, and had, of course, to do her very best to give Kitty a good time, and Kitty knew exactly how much to flatter and how far to go. She saw that it was essential that she should become very friendly with Mrs. Wyndham, for Mrs. Wyndham really ruled the house. Accordingly, in the course of the day, when her little fingers smarted a great deal, owing to the rough work of putting holly and ivy together, when she discovered in very truth that Peggy was right, and that her fingers were all thumbs, she went up to Jessie. “Jess, I do hope you won’t mind.”
“What am I not to mind?” asked Jessie, who was exceedingly busy, and just glanced up at Kitty and then resumed her work.
“Well, this. Your mother—I thought she would like me to go back and have lunch with her; she’s not very well, and she told me last night that she often felt so lonely. Don’t you think I might go back?”
“It’s two miles and more away; are you prepared to walk the distance?” asked Jessie.
“But the Dodds’ motor-car is outside, and I could use that to go back to Preston Manor.”
“Oh, by the way, I have a message from mother to the Dodds. I will go and give it now, and then you can ask if they’ll lend you the motor. But, really and truly, Kitty, if you like being here, mother, I am sure, would not wish to take you from your fun.”
“Oh I think it is only right that children should think of their elders,” said Kitty.