Lady William made no answer, but rang the bell, as it very seldom was rung in this small house; an unusual occurrence, which brought Patty in with a rush, still rubbing a candlestick she held in her hand.
‘Patty, did you ask Mr. Swinford to come in and wait till Miss Mab and I came back?’
‘Yes, my lydy,’ said Patty, with sharp eyes that gleamed in the light.
‘And you did not ask Mrs. Swinford, when she called, to come in and wait?’
‘Oh, no, my lydy,’ cried Patty, aggrieved.
‘Why?’ said her mistress solemnly.
‘Oh, my lydy!’ said Patty, thunderstruck.
‘Yes, why?’ I want to know, why should Mr. Swinford wait for me and not Mrs. Swinford? I do not wish anybody to be asked to wait for me when I am out. If you were ever to do it again, I don’t know what I might be obliged to say.’
‘Oh, my lydy,’ said Patty, ‘I thought as Mr. Swinford was a young gentleman as perhaps made it a little cheerful for Miss Mab—— and I thought as the old lady wasn’t a pleasure for nobody; and I thought—— ’
‘If that is true of old ladies, why should you stay with me, Patty, who am an old lady, too, and not a pleasure to anybody——’