Compressing her lips, determining to suppress all this ere many days should be over, my lady quitted the subject for the one she had chiefly come to speak upon.
"And now, cook, what did you mean by flying in the face of my orders yesterday?"
"Did I fly in the face of 'em?" asked the cook, simply.
"Did you! I ordered a plain dinner--fish, a joint, and pudding. You sent up--I know not what in addition to it."
"Oh, it's them extra dishes you mean. Yes, my lady, Sinnett ordered 'em."
"Sinnett!" echoed my lady. "Did you tell her I had desired the dinner should be plain--that I had fixed on it?" she asked after a pause.
"Sinnett said that sort of dinner wouldn't do for the justice, and I was to send up a better one."
My lady bit her thin lips. "Call Sinnett here if you please."
Sinnett, about her work upstairs, came in obedience to the summons. She was a little, pale-faced, dark woman, of about thirty-five, given to wear smart caps. My lady attacked her quietly enough, but with a manner authoritative.
"I beg you to understand at once that I am mistress here, Sinnett, and must be obeyed. When I give my orders, whether for dinner or for anything else, they are not to be improved upon."