The housekeeper came, paler, more trembling than usual, with her eyes fluttering, but with sharp malignant gleams flashing out of them from under the white throbbing lashes. ’I be that nervous,’ she said, ’and my hand shakes so I can hardly write.’ She stooped, and indeed her hand did tremble. ’I’m cooking the supper,’ she said, ’you must excuse the apron.’ As she wrote she turned her head and looked at her master. He was not observing her, and the lawyer was indicating the place where she was to write and was holding down the sheet, but Honor saw the look full of deadly hate, a look that made her heart stand still, and the thought to spring into her brain, ’That woman ought not to remain in the house another hour, she is dangerous.’ When Mrs. Veale had done, she rose, put her hands under her apron, curtsied, and said, ’May I make so bold as to ask if that be the master’s will?’ ’No, it is not,’ said Langford. ’Thank you, sir,’ said Mrs. Veale, curtseying again. ’You’ll excuse the liberty, but if it had been, I’d have said, remember I’ve served your honour these fifteen years faithful as a dog, and now in my old age I’m kicked out, though not past work.’ She curtsied again, and went backward out of the room into the passage. Langford shut, slammed the door in her face. ’Is the woman a little touched here?’ asked the lawyer, pointing to his forehead. ’Oh no, not a bit, only disappointed. She has spent fifteen years in laying traps for me, and I have been wise enough to avoid them all.’ Then he opened the door suddenly and saw her there, in the dark passage, her face distorted with passion and her fist raised. ’Mrs. Veale,’ said the yeoman, ’lay the supper and have done with this nonsense.’ ’I beg your pardon,’ she said, changing her look and making another curtsey, ’was it the marriage settlement now? I suppose it was. I wish you every happiness, and health to enjoy your new condition. Health and happiness! I’m to leave, and that young chick to take my place. May she enjoy herself. And, Mr. Langford, may you please, as long as you live, to remember me.’ ’Go along! Lay the table, and bring in supper.’ ’What will you please to take, master?’ asked the woman in an altered tone. ’Bring me some broth. I’ll take no solids. I’m not right yet. For the rest, the best you have in the house.’ Mrs. Veale laid the table. The lawyer, Langford, the carrier, and Honor were seated round the room, very stiffly, silent, watching the preparations for the meal. Presently Honor started up. She was unaccustomed to be waited upon, incapable of remaining idle. ’I will go help to prepare the supper,’ she said, and went into the passage.