"
"Have you done any embroidery?"
"I understand it a little, but I am not particularly fond of it."
"You mistake: I did not ask you whether you were fond of it,"
said Mrs. Perkin; "I asked you if you had ever done any"; and she
smiled severely, but ludicrously, for a diagonal smile is apt to
have a comic effect. "Here!--take off your gloves," she
continued, "and let me see you do one of these loose-worked
sunflowers. They are the fashion now, though. I dare say, you
will not be able to see the beauty of them."
"Please, ma'am," returned Mary, "if you will excuse me, I would
rather go to my room. I have had a long journey, and am very
tired."
"There is no room yours.--I have had no character with you.--
Nothing can be done til Mrs. Redman comes home, and she and I
have had a little talk about you. But you can go to the
housemaid's--the second housemaid's room, I mean--and make
yourself tidy. There is a spare bed in it, I believe, which you
can have for the night; only mind you don't keep the girl awake
talking to her, or she will be late in the morning, and that I
never put up with. I think you will do. You seem willing to
learn, and that is half the battle."
Therewith Mrs. Perkin, believing she had laid in awe the
foundation of a rightful authority over the young person, gave
her a nod of dismissal, which she intended to be friendly.
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