Like most of her countrywomen, neatness and order were indispensable to her comfort; and think, then, what the constant intrusion into every corner of the house of lathes and turning-machines, of compasses and glasses, and mirrors and polishing apparatus must have been! No wonder that the English or Welsh servant, however willing, failed to meet her mistress's requirements.
On this occasion she had, with the best intention, bustled about; but had always done precisely the reverse of what she was told to do.
At last, breaking out into German invective, her mistress had given her a rather decided push from the room, and had called Alexander to come to her rescue.
"The slut! Look at the dust on the harpsichord! Did I not tell her to remove every speck before it was placed by the window? I would fifty times sooner do all the work myself. What would our mother say at all this?"
"Heaven knows!" Alex said, laughing. "But, sister, the room looks spick and span; and here is an arrival."
"It is only Mr. Travers; he is to play the second violin. Entertain him, Alex, while I go and make my toilette."
Repairing to the humble bedroom, which was really the only space allotted to her--or, rather, that she allotted to herself--she changed her morning-wrapper for a sacque of pale blue, and twisted a ribbon to match it in her fair hair. As she was descending again to the drawing-room, she heard her brother William's voice.
"I have concluded the business about the removal to King Street, and we must make the move as soon as possible."
"Yes; the garden slopes well to the river. There will be a magnificent sky-line, and room for the great venture. The casting of the great thirty-foot----"
"Yes, William--yes; but the people are arriving, and you must be in your place downstairs."
Then Mr. Herschel, with the marvellous power of self-control which distinguished him, laid aside the astronomer and became the musician, playing a solo on the harpsichord to a delighted audience; and then accompanying his sister in the difficult songs in "Judas Maccabæus," which hitherto only the beautiful Miss Linley had attempted in Bath society.
In one of the pauses in the performance the door opened, and Alex Herschel went forward to meet Lady Betty Longueville and Miss Mainwaring. He presented them to his brother and sister; and Lady Betty passed smiling and bowing up the room, while Griselda moved behind her with stately grace and dignity.