"Not any, now: it is so very hot. Alice," added Lady Sarah, turning to Alice, who was leaning back on a sofa, "will you put all my bracelets out for me against I come up? I will decide then."
"I put them out, Lady Sarah?" returned Alice. "Yes, certainly."
"If you will be so kind. Hughes, give the key to Miss Seaton." For they did sometimes remember to address Alice by her adopted name.
Lady Sarah left the room, and the maid, Hughes, began taking one of the small keys off the ring. "I have leave to go out, miss," she explained, "which is the reason why my lady has asked you to see to her bracelets. My mother is not well, and wants to see me. This is the key, ma'am."
As Alice took it, Lady Sarah reappeared at the door. "Alice, you may as well bring the bracelet-box down to the back drawing-room," she said. "I shall not care to come up here after dinner: we shall be late as it is."
"What's that about the bracelet-box?" inquired a pretty-looking girl, who had come swiftly out of another apartment.
"Lady Sarah wishes me to bring her bracelets down to the drawing-room, that she may choose which to put on. It was too hot to wear them to dine in, she said."
"Are you not coming in to dinner, Alice?"
"No. I walked out, and it has tired me. I have had some tea instead.".
"I would not be you for all the world, Alice! To possess so little capability of enjoying life."