Redmain before three o'clock. She will very
likely not be out of her room before one.--I suppose you saw her
at Durnmelling?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Mary, "--and at Testbridge."
It kept growing on the housekeeper that she had made a mistake--
though to what extent she sought in vain to determine.
"You will find it rather wearisome waiting," she said next; "--
would you not like to help me with my work?"
Already she had the sunflowers under her creative hands.
"I should be very glad--if I can do it well enough to please you,
ma'am," answered Mary. "But," she added, "would you kindly see
that Mrs. Redmain is told, as soon as she wakes, that I am here?"
"Oblige me by ringing the bell," said Mrs. Perkin.--"Send Mrs.
Folter here."'
A rather cross-looking, red-faced, thin woman appeared, whom she
requested to let her mistress know, as soon as was proper, that
there was a young person in the house who said she had come from
Testbridge by appointment to see her.
"Yes, ma'am," said Folter, with a supercilious yet familiar nod
to Mary; "I'll take care she knows."
Mary passed what would have been a dreary morning to one
dependent on her company. It was quite three o'clock when she was
at length summoned to Mrs. Redmain's boudoir. Folter, who was her
guide thither, lingered, in the soft closing of the door, long
enough to learn that her mistress received the young person with
a kiss--almost as much to Mary's surprise as Folter's annoyance,
which annoyance partly to relieve, partly to pass on to Mrs.
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