Part 8 (2/2)
”I'll be the kitchenmaid, if necessary,” said Wally cheerfully. ”What does one do?”
Allenby shuddered visibly.
”My niece, I am sure, will do all she can, sir,” he said. His gaze dwelt on Wally's uniform; it was easy to see him quailing in spirit before the vision of an officer with a kitchen mop. ”Perhaps, miss, if you would like to see the rooms?”
They trooped upstairs, the silent house suddenly waking to life with the quick footsteps and cheery voices. The big front bedrooms were at once put aside for future guests. Norah fell in love with, and promptly appropriated, a little room that appeared to have been tucked into a corner by the architect, as an afterthought. It was curiously shaped, with a quaint little nook for the bed, and had a big window furnished with a low cus.h.i.+oned seat, wide enough for any one to curl up with a book. Mr. Linton and the boys selected rooms princ.i.p.ally remarkable for bareness. Jim had a lively hatred for furniture; they left him discussing with Allenby the question of removing a spindle-legged writing table. Mr. Linton and Norah went downstairs, with sinking hearts, to encounter Miss de Lisle.
On the way appeared Sarah; very clean and starched as to dress, very pink and s.h.i.+ny as to complexion. Her hair was strained back from her forehead so tightly it appeared to be pulling her eyes up.
”Oh, Sarah,” said Mr. Linton, pausing.
”Yes, sir,” said Sarah meekly.
”You may be required to help the cook for a few days until we--er--until the staff is complete,” said her employer. ”Your uncle tells me you will have no objection.”
”It being understood, sir, as it is only tempory,” said Sarah firmly.
”Oh, quite,” said Mr. Linton hurriedly.
”And of course I will help you with the housework, Sarah,” put in Norah.
Sarah looked more wooden than before.
”Thank you, miss, I'm sure,” she returned.
They went on.
”Doesn't she make you feel a worm!” said Norah.
”This is a terrible business, Norah!” said Mr. Linton fervently. ”I didn't guess what Brownie was saving me from, all these years.”
They found Miss de Lisle in the kitchen, where an enormous range glowed like a fiery furnace, in which respect Miss de Lisle rather resembled it. She was a tall, stout woman, dressed in an overall several sizes too small for her. The overall was rose-coloured, and Miss de Lisle was many shades deeper in hue. She accepted their greetings without enthusiasm, and plunged at once into a catalogue of grievances.
”The butler tells me there is no kitchenmaid,” she boomed wrathfully.
”And I had not expected such an antiquated range. Nor could I possibly manage with these saucepans”--sweeping a scornful hand towards an array which seemed to the hapless Lintons to err only on the side of magnificence. ”There will be a number of necessary items.
And where am I to sit? You will hardly expect me to herd with the servants.”
”It would be rough on them!” rose to Norah's lips. But she prudently kept the reflection to herself.
”To sit?” echoed Mr. Linton. ”Why, I really hadn't thought of it.”
His brow cleared. ”Oh--there is the housekeeper's room.”
”And who is the housekeeper? Is she a lady?”
”She hasn't said so, yet,” said Mr. Linton. It was evident that he considered this a point in the absent housekeeper's favour. Miss de Lisle flamed anew.
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