That 'ma'am' cost her a terrible
effort; the sound of it seemed to smack her on the ears.
'If you will go in-to the servants' hall and wait,' the housekeeper deigned
to say, after reflecting, 'I'll see what can be done.'
And Miss Rockett submitted. In the servants' hall she sat for a long, long
time, observed, but never addressed. The hour of her train went by. More
than once she was on the point of rising and fleeing; more than once her
smouldering wrath all but broke into flame. But she thought of her father's
pale, pain-stricken face, and sat on.
At something past eleven o'clock a footman approached her, and said curtly,
'You are to go up to my lady; follow me.' May followed, shaking with
weakness and apprehension, burning at the same time with pride all but in
revolt. Conscious of nothing on the way, she found herself in a large room,
where sat the two ladies, who for some moments spoke together about a topic
of the day placidly. Then the elder seemed to become aware of the girl who
stood before her.
'You are Rockett's elder daughter?'
Oh, the metallic voice of Lady Shale! How gratified she would have been
could she have known how it bruised the girl's pride!
'Yes, my lady--'
'And why do you want to see me?'
'I wish to apologise--most sincerely--to your ladyship--for my behaviour
of last evening--'
'Oh, indeed!' the listener interrupted contemptuously.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330