"Well, well! I declare!" exclaimed Hobbs, comforted a little by these words and the sight of her patient. But she went on wondering whether she was dreaming or whether Dora had gone clean mad.
"Hobbs," said Dora, "we must make haste about our preparations. We leave the house to-morrow, and, God be praised, never to return," she added.
"To-morrow, ma'am!" rejoined Hobbs, with a look that seemed to express the impossibility of further astonishment.
"Yes, to-morrow, we get to a new home and take leave of this one."
"She has already taken leave of something else," thought the distressed servant.
"We go to St. John's Wood! But why do you stare so, Hobbs? You are not going to remain here and let me go without you, surely?"
"How could I think of doing such a thing!" said poor Hobbs, really hurt by the suggestion.
And she fell to laughing and crying softly to herself without knowing why, thoroughly bewildered at the turn things had taken.
Dora passed the remainder of the day in choosing the things she intended to take away with her; first, the furniture of her own bedroom and that of Hobbs, then some studio belongings, the two easels, and her portrait which Philip had not finished, the old clock that stood in the hall, and a few other things that belonged to her personally; some table silver, and many an odd piece of furniture that had been dear to her in the old house, but which had been since relegated to the attics, as being not worthy to figure in the new one. The next day she bought a Japanese screen and a few things which, while costing little, would yet help her in the execution of the project which she had set her mind upon. These purchases made, there remained twenty pounds in her purse.
She summoned the servants to the dining-room and told them that their master would return home shortly and would pay their wages.