Poor little Fanny could hardly keep back her tears.
“Impertinent to you, Fanny,” cried Graeme and Arthur in a breath.
“Well, to mamma—and she is not very respectful to me, sometimes, and mamma says Nelly has been long enough here. Servants always take liberties after a time; and, besides, she looks upon Graeme as mistress rather than me. She quite treats me like a child,” continued Fanny, her indignation increasing as she proceeded.
“And, besides,” she added, after there had been a moment’s uncomfortable silence, “Nelly wishes to go.”
“Is Barkis willing at last?” said Arthur, trying to laugh off the discomfort of the moment.
Rose laughed too. It had afforded them all much amusement to watch the slow courtship of the dignified Mr Stirling. Nelly always denied that there was anything more in the gardener’s attentions, than just the good-will and friendliness of a countryman, and he certainly was a long time in coming to the point they all acknowledged.
“Nonsense, Arthur! That has nothing to do with it,” said Fanny.
“Then, she must be going to her sister—the lady with a fabulous number of cows and children. She has spoken about that every summer, more or less. Her conscience pricks her, every new baby she hears of. But she will get over it. It is all nonsense about her leaving.”
“But it is not nonsense,” said Fanny, sharply. “Of course Graeme will not like her to go, but Nelly is very obstinate and disagreeable, and mamma says I shall never be mistress in my own house while she stays. And I think we ought to take a good servant when we have the chance.”
“But how good a servant is she?” asked Arthur.