A scolding! said Patty; and who is going to scold you, you silly fellow, except me? I should like to see them try Mrs. Parsons or Sir Giles, or any one. You can just say, Speak to my wife.
Theres mother, that you darent set up your face to. I say, said Gervase; Patty, whats all this about mother? Mothers dead? Shell never have
a word to say about anything any more?
Dear mother! said Patty. You must always say dear mother, Gervase, now: Im sure I should have loved her but, you see, Providence never gave me the opportunity. No, shell never have a word to say: its me that will have everything to say. Oh, you have answered the bell at last! Send Mrs. Parsons here.
Mrs. Parsons, maam my lady? the frightened little under-housemaid, who had been made to answer, said.
Patty gave her a gracious smile, feeling that at last she had found some one who understood what her claims were.
Whats your name? she said.
Ellen.
Well, Ellen, I like your looks, and Ive no doubt we shall get on; but you neednt call me my lady, not now, for the present I am only Mrs. Gervase. Now, go and send Parsons here.
Oh, my lady, Mrs. Parsons! shes in my old ladys room. I darent disturb her, not for anything in the world; it would be as much as my place was worth.
I see you are only a little fool after all, said Patty, with a frown. Your place is just worth this much whether you please me or not. Mrs. Parsons has as much power as as that table. Goodness, cried Patty, what a state this house has been in, to be sure, when one servant is afraid of another! but I shall soon put an end to that. Call Parsons! let her come at once.
The little housemaid came back while Patty still stood before the glass straightening the edge of her bonnet and arranging her veil.
If you please, my lady, Mrs. Parsons is doing out my old ladys drawers and she has her head bent down, and I cant make her hear.
Ill make her hear, cried Patty, with an impulse which belonged rather to her previous condition than to her present dignity; and she rushed along the corridor like a whirlwind, with her draperies flying. It was, doubtless, instinct or inspiration that directed her to the right door, while Gervase followed on her steps to see the fun, with a grin upon his face. He remembered only now and then, when something recalled it to him, that his mother was gone. He was not thinking of her now; nevertheless, when Patty burst into that room, he stood in the doorway dumb, the grin dying out from his face, and gave a scared look round as if looking for the familiar presence he had so often encountered there.
You perhaps have not heard, Mrs. Parsons, said Patty, with her sharp, decisive voice, that I sent for you?
Parsons had her head bent over the drawers. She said, without turning round, That gaby, Ellen, said something about somebody wanting me; and then began to count, Eight, nine, ten. Three dozen here and three dozen in the walnut wardrobe, said Parsons; that makes it just right.
Pattys curiosity overcame her resentment. She came forward and looked over Parsons shoulder. Six dozen silk stockings, she cried; is that what you are counting? What a number for an old lady! and fine, too, and in good condition, she said, putting her hand over the womans shoulder and bringing forth a handful. They were mingled white and black, and Patty looked upon them with covetous eyes.
Who are you as takes such a liberty? cried Parsons, springing to her feet. She found herself confronted by Pattys very alert, firm figure and resolute countenance. Patty drew Lady Pierceys silk stockings through her hands, looking at the size of them. She held them up by the toes to mark her sense of their enormous dimensions.
I could put both my feet into one of them, she said, reflectively, so that they are no use to me. Oh, you are Parsons! Open the door, please, at once, of the best rooms. I want to settle down.
The woman looked at the intruder with a mixture of defiance and fear. She turned to Gervase, appealing against the stranger. Many a time had Parsons put the Softy out of his mothers room, bidding him be off and not aggravate my lady. But my lady was gone, and Gervase was the master, to do what he would; or, what was worse, it was Patty who was the mistress. Patty of the ale-house! Parsons looked at Gervase with an agonised appeal. Theyre your mothers things, she said; Mr. Gervase, will you see them knock about your mothers things?
Pattys eyes were in the drawer remarking everything, and those eyes sparkled and shone. What treasures were there! Not only silk stockings too big for her, but linen, and lace, and embroidered handkerchiefs, and silks, such as Patty had never seen before. She went to the drawers and closed them one after another.
I see there are some nice things here, she said. We cant have them turned over like this by a servant. Some servants expect their mistresss things as their perquisites, but we cant allow that in this house. Lock them up, lock them up at once, and