Her immediate neighbours had only addressed one or two remarks to the new importation. They were charitable, Christian people, and realised that it was kinder to leave her unnoticed--and to permit the poor girl “to find herself.”
After lunch, the six ladies adjourned to coffee in the little drawing-room, and here the marchioness and her daughters gathered round and made friends with their new cousin.
Such a pretty, blushing, timid creature, with her soft southern brogue! And what a likeness to her mother!
By-and-by Joseline rose, in hopes of making her escape; but Lady Mulgrave, with an imperative gesture, motioned her to her side, and, looking up with half-closed eyes, exclaimed, “Now you must talk to _me_ a little, dear girl.”
Joseline sat down in embarrassed silence.
“Dearest child, I really do think you so wonderful.” A pause, and she blew a cloud. “Six weeks ago you were in a cabin. It is extraordinary, is it not?”
“It is,” was the humble admission; “but it was not altogether what you might call a cabin.”
“Just a decent slated house with two good bedrooms, forby, a loft, and a fine kitchen and scullery.”
“But, dearest, you said there were two bedrooms.”
“Yes, but we kept potatoes in one, and I liked being up high. And now, with your leave, I’d like to go away and write a few letters.”
“So then”--with a playful air--“you can write?”
“Oh yes, and read, and cipher. I had good schooling.”
“And what are your accomplishments, Joseline?”
“Still, I’m confident you are clever at some things.”
“Oh, the concertina!” repeated Lady Mulgrave, with a faint shudder.
“And I can knit and dance; and I’m a good milker--if that counts.”
“No. We had three, and sometimes four, cows. We kept the Rectory in milk, and the police barracks as well.”
“Did you do all this yourself--no assistants?”
“Me mother--that’s”--becoming scarlet--“Mrs. Foley,--wasn’t up to much, and I used to have a girl in on weekdays to lend a hand, and a boy of a Sunday--but I got shut of him.”
“Oh, because he was always in a hurry to be off, tearing at the cows at two o’clock, instead of six, because, being Sunday, he wanted to do the bona fide on his bicycle.”
“The bona fide traveller, you know, is allowed refreshments. He would take a spin of six or seven miles--get a drink at a public-house. May I go now, please?”