The girl hesitated.
Orange tore the note open. It was written in the same hand as the address.
'Please, miss, the Captain be very serius indispodged, and heve a took to his bed. He carnt rite, according hev axed me to say so. Your's full of respex, JOANNA KNEEBONE.'
Orange looked up, angry, her heart beating violently. The girl was still there, but moving towards the kitchen.
'What do you want in the house?' asked Orange.
'There be another letter, miss, I hev to deliver.'
'Well, give it to me.'
'It be for the other young lady,' answered the girl; 'and I hev to give it only into her hand.'
'You cannot do that,' said Orange; 'she is gone out.'
'Please, miss, will she be gone for long?'