Redmain.
By this time she was tired: she was accustomed to tea in the
afternoon, and since her dinner with the housekeeper she had had
nothing.
She found Mrs. Redmain dressed for the evening. As soon as Mary
entered, she dismissed Folter.
"I am going out to dinner," she said. "Are you quite
comfortable?"
"I am rather cold, and should like some tea," said Mary.
"My poor girl! have you had no tea?" said Hesper, with some
concern, and more annoyance. "You are looking quite pale, I see!
When did you have anything to eat?"
"I had a good dinner at one o'clock," replied Mary, with a rather
weary smile.
"This is dreadful!" said Hesper. "What can the servants be
about!"
"And, please, may I have a little fire?" begged Mary.
"Certainly," replied Hesper, knitting her brows with a look of
slight anguish. "Is it possible you have been sitting all day
without one? Why did you not ring the bell?" She took one of her
hands. "You are frozen!" she said.
"Oh, no!" answered Mary; "I am far from that. You see nobody
knows yet what to do with me.--You hardly know yourself," she
added, with a merry look. "But, if you wouldn't mind telling Mrs.
Perkin where you wish me to have my meals, that would put it all
right, I think."
"Very well," said Hesper, in a tone that for her was sharp. "Will
you ring the bell?"
She sent for the housekeeper, who presently appeared--lank and
tall, with her head on one side like a lamp-post in distress, but
calm and prepared--a dumb fortress, with a live garrison.
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