"I won't have her!"
"Nonsense." Madeline stepped quickly to the door and opened it. "Strong," she said, softly.
Instantly in stepped Strong, who had been just outside awaiting the orders of her mistress.
"Strong," said Madeline, "I am going to let you wait upon Mrs. Arthur. She is in delicate health, and needs a maid. You must be very attentive, and don't let her get into any draughts. You can sleep in the dressing-room; and if she is not well cared for, I shall hold you accountable."
Cora looked at the big, robust woman, so appropriately called Strong, and felt that she was indeed a prisoner.
Strong bowed in silent submission to the will of her late mistress, and turned her broad visage upon her new one.
Madeline moved to leave the room, saying, with a return to her former manner: "Good-night, step-mamma; try and go down to breakfast with me in the morning, won't you?"
Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and swept across the hall, and Cora heard her door close behind her. Not deigning a single glance at Strong, Cora sat tapping her foot upon the carpet and reviewing the situation. After some angry musing, the practical side of her nature began to assert itself. She reflected that she was not, after all, in immediate danger; and that she would be still, to all outward appearance, the mistress of Oakley. There was not much to fear just now, and she would keep her eyes open.
Meantime, she would not be unnecessarily uncomfortable. And so, being by nature indolent, she decided to make the most of the unwelcome Strong. Turning toward the statue-like figure near the door, she galvanized it into life by saying:
"Strong, get my dressing-gown from that closet, and then take off my dress."