"Oh, dear, I'm afraid I've bored you," said Mrs. Ogden apologetically.
And Elizabeth, looking across at Joan, saw an angry light in her eyes.
3
Mrs. Ogden gave the maid-servant notice, without consulting her daughter, who knew nothing about it until the girl came to her to protest. "The mistress has given me a month's notice, and I'm sure I do no what I've done. It's a hard place and she's awful to please, but I've done my best. I have indeed!"
Joan went in search of her mother. "Why on earth have you given Ellen notice?" she demanded. "She's the best girl we've ever had."
"I know she is," said Mrs. Ogden, who was studying her bank book.
"Then why——?"
"Well, you see, darling, I shan't be able to afford a servant when you've gone, so I thought it better to give her notice at once. Of course I couldn't very well tell her why I was sending her away, could I?"
Joan collapsed into a chair. "But, good heavens, Mother! You can't do the housework. Surely with a little management you might have kept her on; she only gets nineteen pounds a year!"
"Ah! but there's her food and washing," said Mrs. Ogden patiently.