But Katherine’s cares were not over; in her room she found Mrs. Simmons waiting for her, handkerchief in hand, with her cap a little awry and her eyes red with crying. “I’m told, Miss Katherine,” said Simmons with a sniff, “as Miss Stella, which they calls her ladyship, don’t think nothing of my cookin’, and says I’m no better than a savage. I’ve bin in this house nigh upon twenty years, and my things always liked, and me trusted with everything; and that’s what I won’t take from no one, if it was the Lord Chamberlain himself. I never thought to live to hear myself called a savage—and it’s what I can’t put up with, Miss Katherine—not to go again you. I wouldn’t cross you not for no money. I’ve ’ad my offers, both for service and for publics, and other things. Mr. Harrison, the butler, he have been very pressin’—but I’ve said just this, and it’s my last word, I won’t leave Miss Katherine while she’s in trouble. I know my dooty better nor that, I’ve always said.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Simmons; you were always very good to me,” said Katherine, “and you must not mind anything that is said at table. You know Stella always was hasty, and never meant half she said.”
“Folks do say, Miss Katherine,” said Simmons, “as it’s a going to be Miss Stella’s house.”
“Yes, it will be her house; but whether she will stay in it or not I cannot tell you yet. It would be very nice for you, Simmons, to be left here as housekeeper with a maid or two to attend you, and nothing to do.”
“I hope,” said Simmons, with again a sniff, “as I am not come so low down as that—to be a caretaker, me at my time of life. And it don’t seem to me justice as Miss Stella should have the house as she runned away from and broke poor old master’s heart. He’s never been himself from that day. I wonder she can show her face in it, Miss Katherine, that I do! Going and calling old servants savages, as has been true and faithful and stood by him, and done their best for him up to the very last.”
“You must not be offended, Simmons, by a foolish word; and you must not speak so of my sister. She is my only sister, and I am glad she should have everything, everything!” Katherine cried with fervour, the moisture rising to her eyes.
“Then, Miss Katherine, it’s more nor anyone else is, either in the servants’ hall or the kitchen. Miss Stella, or her ladyship as they calls her, is a very ’andsome young lady, and I knows it, and dreadful spoiled she has been all her life. But she don’t have no consideration for servants. And we’ll clear out, leastways I will for one, if she is to be the Missus here.”
“I hope you will wait first and see what she intends. I am sure she would be very sorry, Simmons, to lose so good a servant as you.”
“I don’t know as it will grieve her much—me as she has called no better nor a savage; but she’ll have to stand it all the same. And the most of the others, I warn you, Miss Katherine, will go with me.”
“Don’t, dear Simmons,” said Katherine. “Poor Stella has been nearly seven long years away, and she has been among black people, where—where people are not particular what they say; don’t plunge her into trouble with her house the moment she gets back.”