“Dear me, child, you would be much more sick if you had not got the dress and the money,” replied Lady Georgina in her brusque voice. “Don’t quarrel with your lot, Nancy,” she added. “Take the goods the gods give you with a thankful heart. There are few women so blessed.” They entered the dressing-room, and Nancy shut the door. “I know you are right,” she said, making an effort to recover her spirits, “and when Adrian is at home there is no woman in all the world whose heart is more full of thankfulness. Oh, I suffered when he was away,” she continued. “I earnestly hope he will never leave me again.” “Poor little girl!” said Lady Georgina. She paused for a moment, thinking somewhat deeply for her. “It would be unkind,” she said then, “to counsel you to wish for the impossible. You must take the sour with the sweet, the dark with the light, like all the rest of us, Mrs. Rowton. Your husband will certainly leave you again. He is a wanderer not only by nature, but by heredity. His father was one of the most celebrated travellers of his day. His grandfather could never stay three months in the same place, and as to Adrian, he has been already over the greater part of the world. Yes, my dear, he will of course, travel again, and leave you again, and come back to you again and rejoice your heart. Now let us be content with the happy present. Heigh ho! for the beautiful dress. Shall we ring for your maid?” “Let us manage without her,” said Nance. “I do not like Hester,” she continued. “Each day I dislike her more.” “Then in the name of fortune, child, why do you keep her?” said Lady Georgina. “You are surely your own mistress and can do just what you please.” “Of course I am my own mistress,” answered Nance, “but I do not like to give way to mere fancy, and the girl really serves me very well. Still,” she added, emphasis in her voice, “I do not like Hester Winsome; I know I never shall like her.” “Did you ring for me, madam?” said Hester’s voice at that moment. Both ladies turned and started. Hester had advanced a few steps into the room. Her face looked serene and innocent. “I surely heard you ring for me, madam.” “I did not ring,” answered Nancy. “Another time, knock before you enter a room, Hester,” said Lady Georgina in her curtest, shortest voice. “Yes, please do, Hester,” said Nancy; “but now that you are here, stay. I want to try on my new ball dress. You told me, did you not, that it had arrived from Madame Delaroi’s last night?” “Yes, madam, it is in the large wardrobe.” Hester crossed the room as she spoke, opened a wardrobe, and took out a magnificent dress of the palest cream brocade, richly and heavily embroidered with seed pearls. “Ah!” cried Lady Georgina, “that dress is worth looking at. It really makes my mouth water. For the third time, I say, what it is to be rich!” “The dress is lovely,” said Nance. She went up to it, and, lifting the train, flung it over her arm.