'
'What does she say?' asked Lady Knollys.
'She fears she can't be ready,' I answered, dejectedly.
'There's a deal of my slops in the wash,' blurted out poor Milly, staring
straight at Lady Knollys.
'In the name of wonder, what does my cousin mean?' asked Lady Knollys.
'Her things have not come home yet from the laundress,' I replied; and at
this moment our wondrous old butler entered to announce to Lady Knollys
that his master was ready to receive her, whenever she was disposed to
favour him; and also to make polite apologies for his being compelled, by
his state of health, to give her the trouble of ascending to his room.
So Cousin Monica was at the door in a moment, over her shoulder calling to
us, 'Come, girls.'
'Please, not yet, my lady--you alone; and he requests the young ladies will
be in the way, as he will send for them presently.'
I began to admire poor 'Giblets' as the wreck of a tolerably respectable
servant.
'Very good; perhaps it is better we should kiss and be friends in private
first,' said Cousin Knollys, laughing; and away she went under the guidance
of the mummy.
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