“I have finished,” she said at length, fixing her large, dark eyes on the woman who was trotting aimlessly between the table and the sideboard. “Will you show me to my room?”
“Yes, miss,” said the woman shortly, and gathering together Vivienne’s wraps she conducted her up a broad, easy staircase to a second square hall, also luxuriously furnished and having a circular opening which looked down on the one below it.
“The pink room’s been got ready for you, miss,” said the woman, throwing open the door of a chamber blazing with rose color.
Vivienne half shut her dazzled eyes and walked into it.
“The coachman’s going to bring up your boxes when he comes from the stable,” said the maid. “Can I do anything for you?”
“No, thank you,” said Vivienne; “you may bring me some hot water in the morning.”
“It’s here,” said the woman briefly, and walking behind a screen she pointed to a basin with shining faucets.
“That is nice, to have hot water pipes in one’s room,” said Vivienne.
“It’s all over the house,” said the woman, and after hanging Vivienne’s cloak in a closet she withdrew.
The girl walked to the window and looked out at the snow-laden trees. “It seems I wasn’t expected,” she murmured sadly. “It seems to me I’m lonely,” she continued, and putting up her hands to her eyes she tried to check the tears falling from them.