Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/200

Rh in their hot water," said Gladys, announcing the flitting to her young mistresses then at their own morning toilet. "Them nasty old triplets has done a bunk right enough. And done you proper! I lay you never see the colour of their money, now did you, miss?"

"Oh, go along, Gladys," said Jane, twisting up her hair very quickly. "Go and tell Mrs. Doveton we'll have breakfast on the lawn, and you bring it out if Forbes says it isn't her place." "That Forbes!" said Gladys. "This wouldn't be her place long if I was you. . . . All right, Miss Jane, all right. I'm going."

"We've had the most horrible fortnight of our lives," said Lucilla. "I'd no idea anything could be so horrid. We've fed those old cats with the loveliest meals and we've lost eighteen guineas. I don't feel like breakfast in the garden, I can tell you."

"Oh yes, you do!" said Jane. "Yes, you do, exactly like it! Why, dear me, Luce, it's worth twice the money to have got rid of them! And nothing to reproach ourselves with! Nothing! It's not our fault they've gone—and they have gone. Why, my blessed angel, it's an absolute godsend!"