This, however, proved to be unnecessary, her ladyship having descended the stairs, and penetrated to the kitchen, where she found Sarah testing the heat of the oven with her hand, prior to inserting a large steak pie. “Oh, don’t let me disturb you, Mrs Nidd!” she begged. “Dear me, how cosy it is in here, and what a good smell! I shall sit down on this chair, and watch you.” She seated herself as she spoke, and smiled graciously at her hostess. “Well! you will be happy to know that I have prevailed upon Miss Kate to pay us a long visit,” she disclosed. “I wonder would you be good enough to let me know her measurements? And the colours she prefers. Ah, thank you! What forethought!”

She stretched out her hand , and Sarah put the list into it, looking frowningly at her. It seemed to Sarah that she had taken possession of the house; and the feeling that her mantle was cast over its inmates, and even over the stables, grew upon her, and could not be shaken off. You couldn’t say that she was condescending, for she was very affable. Patronage! that’s what it was: my lady stooping from her height to be kind to a carrier’s wife! No doubt she would be just as kind to Joe, and would laugh easily at Mr Nidd’s sallies. She was putting the paper away in her reticule, and had drawn out her purse. Sarah stiffened, but she only selected half-a-crown from amongst the coins it contained, and laid it on the table. “Will you give that to the stable-boy who has gone to summon up a hackney coach for me?” she asked.

Sarah nodded, still frowning. But Kate looked in at that moment, seeking her aunt, and, at sight of her, said gaily: “Why, ma’am, when I couldn’t find you in the parlour I made up my mind to it that I had dreamt the whole!” She saw Sarah’s worried expression, and said, with a droll look: “Oh, faithless one! I’ll never forgive you! Or shall I? Yes, perhaps I shall! I can’t tell. Aunt Minerva, Tom has procured a hack for you, and it is waiting in the yard.”