Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 1.djvu/161

Rh Her mistress looked surprised. "But not such as to keep her at home?"

"They were taking extra care of her, ma'am—so that she might be all right for coming."

Mrs. Beever was not pleased. "Extra care? Then why didn't they send for the Doctor?"

Again Manning hesitated. "They sent for Miss Jean, ma'am."

"To come and look after her?"

"They often do, ma'am, you know. This morning I took in the message."

"And Miss Jean obeyed it?"

"She was there an hour, ma'am."

Mrs. Beever administered a more than approving pat to the final envelope of her doll. "She said nothing about it."

Again Manning concurred. "Nothing, ma'am." The word sounded six feet high, like the figure she presented. She waited a moment and then, as if to close with as sharp a snap the last open door to the desirable, "Mr. Paul, ma'am," she observed, "if you were wanting to know, is out in his boat on the river."

Mrs. Beever pitched her parcel back to the bench. "Mr. Paul is never anywhere else!"