The girl had brought in the tea-pot, and Dolly saw some magnificent strawberries on the board. The table was shoved up, a cup of tea poured out, and Mrs. Jersey cut bread and butter.
"How kind you are!" Dolly cried. "You are taking a great deal of trouble for me; a stranger."
"Is it for somebody that loves my Master?" said Mrs. Jersey, looking at her with keen eyes.
Dolly's face dimpled all up at this, which would have completed her conquest of Mrs. Jersey's heart, if there had been by this time any ground in that region not already subjected.
"Your Master?" she said. "You mean—?"
"Yes, ma'am, I mean that. My Master is the Lord Jesus Christ; no other. One cannot have two masters; and I serve Lord Brierley only under Him."
"And what made you think—how did you know—that I am His servant too?"
"I don't know, ma'am," said the housekeeper, smiling. "I guessed it when I saw you sitting on the grass there. It seems to me, if the Lord don't just yet write His name in their foreheads, He does put a letter or two of it there, so one can tell."
"I am very glad to find I have a friend in the neighbourhood," said Dolly. "I am Dolly Copley; my father is American Consul at London, and a friend of Mr. St. Leger."
"I know Mr. St. Leger, ma'am; by name, that is."