“We’ll attend to the clothes all right, so don’t worry about that. We are not starting till to-morrow afternoon, and there will be plenty of time to fit you out before then. I’ve had a talk with the housekeeper at my hotel. She seems a good soul, and thinks she knows of a suitable maid to look after you.”
“A maid to look after me!” Gretel felt more convinced than ever that she must be dreaming. “Why, I thought only rich people had maids; I never even had a nurse after I was five. Father did everything for me himself. Oh, Percy dear, I really don’t think I need a maid; it would cost so much, and I can do everything for myself now. Even Mrs. Marsh says I’m not much trouble.”
But Mr. Douane only laughed.
“You’ll have a lot of things to learn, Pussy,” he said, pinching her cheek. “I presume it is something of a shock just at first, but I’ve had a rather severe shock myself. If any one had told me at this hour yesterday, that I should be carrying you off with me to Old Point, I should have been inclined to think it a rather poor joke. But I’ve had my eyes opened since then. Mrs. Marsh hasn’t been playing fair. She and I had a settling-up of accounts last night, and I gave her a piece of my mind that I don’t believe she will forget in a hurry.”
Gretel was beginning to understand.
“Is that why Ada was so cross?” she asked. “And why she said those horrid things about my being a tell-tale and talking about Mrs. Marsh’s private affairs? But I didn’t really tell you anything I ought not; did I, Percy?”
“You certainly did not. You told me nothing but the simple truth, but that was quite enough. I never knew Mrs. Marsh well, but her husband was a fine man, and a great friend of my father’s, and I thought I could trust her to do what was right by you. I have found out my mistake, and for the future I shall steer clear of that charming lady and her daughter.”
“Do you mean I’m not to go back to Mrs. Marsh’s at all?” questioned Gretel.
“Do you want to go back?”
“N—no, not at all, but if I don’t live with Mrs. Marsh, who is going to take care of me?”