Місіс Деллоуей

           Parkinson(hiredforparties)wouldleavethehalldoorajar,andthehallwouldbefullofgentlemenwaiting(theystoodwaiting,sleekingdowntheirhair)whiletheladiestooktheircloaksoffintheroomalongthepassage;whereMrs.Barnethelpedthem,oldEllenBarnet,whohadbeenwiththefamilyforfortyyears,andcameeverysummertohelptheladies,andrememberedmotherswhentheyweregirls,andthoughveryunassumingdidshakehands;said“milady”veryrespectfully,yethadahumorouswaywithher,lookingattheyoungladies,andeversotactfullyhelpingLadyLovejoy,whohadsometroublewithherunderbodice.Andtheycouldnothelpfeeling,LadyLovejoyandMissAlice,thatsomelittleprivilegeinthematterofbrushandcomb,wasawardedthemhavingknownMrs.Barnet—“thirtyyears,milady,”Mrs.Barnetsuppliedher.Youngladiesdidnotusetorouge,saidLadyLovejoy,whentheystayedatBourtonintheolddays.AndMissAlicedidn’tneedrouge,saidMrs.Barnet,lookingatherfondly.ThereMrs.Barnetwouldsit,inthecloakroom,pattingdownthefurs,smoothingouttheSpanishshawls,tidyingthedressing-table,andknowingperfectlywell,inspiteofthefursandtheembroideries,whichwereniceladies,whichwerenot.Thedearoldbody,saidLadyLovejoy,mountingthestairs,Clarissa’soldnurse.

           AndthenLadyLovejoystiffened.“LadyandMissLovejoy,”shesaidtoMr.Wilkins(hiredforparties).