Page:The Semi-attached Couple.djvu/79

 "Very well; shut the door."

"Umph!" thought Mrs. Tomklnson, as she obeyed; "how very uncivil; and calling me Tomkins, too! I hate to be called out of my name. Now I should like to know what he's doing of with all those letters. I wonder whether my lady chooses for him to be ransacking her papers, and whether that's the right thing with married people. Here's your ladyship's bonnet. I could not lay my hand on it rightly, because of my lord's sitting so just at the writing-table."

"Is my lord writing?"

"His lordship seemed to be busy with some papers as was on the table," said Mrs. Tomkinson, guardedly, and with a look of curiosity to see if the hint told. The pause that ensued left her still in doubt. "Shall I step back and tell my lord your ladyship is ready?"

"No," said Helen, absently.

"I can easily go back on pretence to see for your ladyship's gloves"; and Tomkinson began to think the case was assuming great interest.

"No, no," said Lady Teviot, thoroughly roused; "don't disturb Lord Teviot; he was so good as to offer to finish and seal my letters; don't run in and out to disturb him."

"Law, my lady, how good his lordship is! It quite pleased me to see him sitting so comfortable and at home in your ladyship's beautiful boudoir. I wish Lord and Lady Eskdale were here to see how happy your ladyship is. There! there's my lady gone; I declare I think she looks very bad; not a hatom of colour compared to what she had. I ain't quite sure yet but what I think my lord a brute; at least, I shall make a point of thinking so if he plagues my lady. And calling me Tomkins, too—such an idea!"