'No. I am going down to breakfast, and after breakfast I am going to
see Westminster Abbey,' said Miss Gordon, with a sigh. 'I will wear my
light-blue silk.
O'Connor groaned.
'And my pearl-grey hat with the blue feathers.'
O'Connor sat down and looked uneasily at her mistress. After a few
seconds she asked,--
'And wouldn't you like to put green paint on your eyebrows and a blue
stripe down your nose?'
'Come, O'Connor, and do my hair, or I shall be late.'
'I'll have no hand, act, or part in it,' said the maid quietly, as she
folded her arms and stared with scrupulous sincerity at the window.
'Come at once, I say, O'Connor; no more nonsense. You really must
learn to do what I tell you at once, or you and I shall part.'
For a moment the maid remained immoveable. Suddenly she rose to her
feet, turned round, and placed herself between her mistress and the
glass, and said excitedly,--
'I often helped to make you look what you are--the loveliest lady I
ever saw. And I will not now help you to make a fool of yourself. You
know your hair plain does not suit you; you know that dress you never
wore, for it does not suit you; you know that hat only made you laugh
when you put it on. You can dress as you like and do your hair as you
like; but if you think I'll do what you say, you're mistaken.'
'O'Connor, I will have no more of your impertinent nonsense. Do what I
tell you!'
'Is that the way you treat me after all I've done for you? Give me
what you owe me and I'll go back to Cork.'
'Leave the room at once!' cried Miss Gordon excitedly.
'Not till you give me my money,' replied the girl vehemently, at the
same time holding out her hand.
'Leave the room, I say, at once. How dare you stay when I tell you to
go?'
'I am waiting for my money. I want to go back to Cork before you
disgrace me.'
'O'Connor, I will take no further notice of you. Your conduct is
unpardonable. Go, or I shall have to ring the bell.'
'Ring the bell! Ring the bell! Is that what you say after all I've
done and suffered for you, and all the outlandish victuals I have
eaten, and all the outlandish gibberishes I have listened to--is that
my thanks?'
'If you don't go at once, I'll ring.'
'Pay me my money and I'll go.'
Miss Gordon rose and went towards the bell.
'Pay me my money, or I'll call in the police.'
Miss Gordon rang the bell.
All at once the manner of the maid changed. Her lips trembled, she put
her hand before her face, walked towards the door, and left the room
sobbing.
The chambermaid appeared in a few minutes. To her Miss Gordon said,--
'I shall be late for the table d'hôte breakfast. Get me a little for
myself in about three-quarters of an hour.'
When the chambermaid came down to the kitchen she found Judith
O'Connor moving about the place restlessly.
'What did my mistress ring for?' asked Judith.
'To say she'd want breakfast for herself in three-quarters of an
hour.'
'She did not say anything else?'
'No.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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