But those below stairs were not above talking at dinner and supper in the servants' hall, while Mademoiselle Justine sat like a smiling sphinx and listened, but said nothing. "For my part," said Robbins, "I think her young ladyship bears it admirably, as a well-bred lady should. She's getting to know that people in the upper classes can't marry as they like, and behaving quite right." "Ah, poor girl," said Mrs Downes; "but under that there quiet look who knows what a volcano is a-busting in her breast. Ah, I have a heart of my own." "It seems to me," said Dolly Preen, who during the past few weeks had been growing thin and acid consequent upon slighted love, much banter, the threatened loss of her situation, and genuine feminine jealousy of Justine, who had been intrusted with the task of accompanying her young mistress in her walks--"it seems to me that Lady Maude is finding consolation somewhere." Justine, who had been sitting _so_ sphinx-like, suddenly flashed into life. "You--you lil _bebe_ of a girl, say what you mean," she cried angrily. "I was not talking of her ladyship, ma'amselle," retorted Dolly, who had aptly picked up the London ways of her fellows. "It only seemed to me that Lady Maude had taken to liking music very much." "Ah, yes!" said Robbins. "Miss Preen is right there." "Some people found fault with me for liking to listen to the organ," said Dolly, spitefully, "but nobody says nothing about my betters." "Lil _bebe_!" ejaculated Justine scornfully. "Not quite such a little baby as you think for, ma'amselle," retorted Dolly, tossing her head. "I'm not blind." "But you are lil miserable," said Justine, scornfully. "What can you see, pray say?" "Lady Maude giving money to that Italian musician, and listening to him very often from the balcony." "Ah," said Mrs Downes, "but it's different there, Miss Preen. Some one I know used to look out of the window at the man, Lady Maude looks out to console herself with the music, and you knows music _hath_ charms." "See how right is Madame Downes," said Justine, smiling and nodding. "My faith, Dolly Preen, but how you are _bete_." "I don't know French," said Dolly, rising, "but I did look in Lady Maude's dictionary to see what that word meant, and I won't sit here to be called a beast by a foreigner, so there." "Lil _bebe_," said Justine, as Dolly moved toward the door. "One moment, Miss Preen," said the butler, speaking in an elderly, paternal tone. "Just you take my advice." "I don't want anybody's advice, Mr Robbins," said the girl with asperity.