Part 20 (1/2)

CHAPTER XII.

A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.

There was one person who was much vexed that he could not have a hand in the late doings. This was Roberts, the butler, who still was far from well, and not allowed out except in the garden on dry days.

But he talked a good deal with the housekeeper; and one day, after one of these talks, she went to Mr. Burnet and said, ”If you have no objection, sir, I should like to ask Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l and Juliet to take tea with me some afternoon.”

”By all means,” replied Mr. Burnet. ”You can give them some of your scones, Mrs. Johnson, and some of your new strawberry jam.”

Accordingly a day was fixed for Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l and Juliet to drink tea at Bourne House. They arrived at four o'clock, neatly dressed, and were taken by Mrs. Johnson into her own little room.

”You see,” explained the housekeeper, ”I am what is called cook-housekeeper; I do the cooking and manage the house. Then there is Mary the housemaid, under my orders; she is out this afternoon, so you won't see her. And there is the butler, who is not under my orders; and you won't see him, because he has his meals in his room, being still an invalid. I daresay your Juliet will take his tea up to him.”

”Oh, yes, I will,” cried Juliet. ”He has been very kind to me.”

”So have a good many people,” said Mrs. Johnson. ”Now, here you are.

You'll find him in the first room on the right-hand side, at the top of the first flight of stairs.”

As soon as Juliet had started with the tray on which Roberts's tea was arranged, Mrs. Johnson went on talking to Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l.

”The house is not all furnished yet, and Roberts is not in the room which is really to be his. There are three reception rooms, a lovely drawing-room opening into the conservatory, good dining-room, and small study. Eight bed-rooms: Mr. Burnet's, Mr. Leonard's, the butler's, the housemaid's, mine, and there will be three spare rooms; so I suppose Mr. Burnet means to have a good deal of staying company.”

”Eight bed-rooms!” repeated Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l; ”and only one housemaid for all of them! Why, however will she keep them all?”

”You may well ask that,” said the housekeeper in a peculiar tone.

”I'll show you over the house by and by, and you shall judge for yourself how Mary will manage it.”

Juliet now returned.

”Well, how does he seem?”

”He seems pretty well,” said Juliet; ”and he was very kind.”

”Ay, he's kind enough. Sugar, Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l? Jam, Juliet? You are able to leave the little ones when you come out, I suppose?”

”Oh, yes,” Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l answered. ”My second girl, Amy, is almost as big as Juliet, and a handy girl too. And you know we have no baby now.”

”I know, I know,” said the housekeeper. ”So you did not feel much put about when Juliet was away from you?”

”Oh, no, not in that way.”

”No, to be sure. Scones, Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l? Milk, Juliet?”

When tea was ended Mrs. Johnson took her visitors over the house. They saw the sitting-rooms, only partly furnished, and all the bed-rooms except that in which Roberts was reposing himself. Some of these chambers were furnished, others were quite empty. Mary's room had two beds in it, two chests of drawers, two washstands, and so forth.

”Ah!” and Mrs. Johnson nodded her head; ”yes, you see I got everything double. Do you understand?”

”Everything double!” said Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l.