THE LAUNCH.
was sitting in the study one morning busily writing, when sounds of an altercation in the hall were followed by the door opening and the appearance of our parlour-maid, with indignation expressed in every line of her expressive and superior person. She had always been very superior, so much so that I frequently wondered why she continued to grace our quiet house, but now, as I glanced at her, I thought I perceived signs of her removing the light of her presence from us at no distant date.
“What is it, Jane?” I inquired mildly.
“If you please, miss,” she replied, with an evident effort, “there’s a young—pusson ’as come, what says she must see you at once, which I told her you never saw no one in the mornin’, an’ ast ’er ’er bizness, which she says as it’s ’ers an’ not mine!” Here her emotion choked her, and enabled me to get in a word edgeways.
“What is she like?” I asked, rising hastily.
“Tall an’ brazen-faced, with a fringe down to ’er eyes, an’——”
But I heard no more, for I was already in the hall, where I discovered Belinda Ann standing on the mat in an aggressive attitude, bristling all over, and with her arms akimbo.
At sight of her old enemy, the parlour-maid, who had followed me down, she gave an expressive snort, which was replied to by that functionary by a toss of her head and the uplifting of an already “tip-tilted” nose. Fearful of the renewal of the “few words” they had evidently already had, I hurriedly greeted Belinda Ann, and drew her after me to a room at the top of the house, which at this time of day was always secure from interruption. Here I set to work to soothe her ruffled temper and hurt dignity, which had evidently been seriously upset, as for a long time all I could get out of her was, “What call ’ad she to give ’erself airs? Set ’er rup indeed! I don’t ’ave ter ’ire soldiers ter walk out with me o’ Sundys!” and suchlike unprofitable exclamations.
By-and-by, however, she became more cheerful, and when I produced some refreshments in the shape of lemonade, biscuits and bananas, she had regained her usual serenity. I may as well say here that there was a curious point of resemblance between Belinda Ann, a daughter of the people, and the highest in the land, and that was, that no matter how strange her surroundings might be to her, she adapted herself to them at once, and never exhibited vulgar curiosity or “gave herself away,” as she would have put it, by expressing surprise or admiration.