CHAPTER XII. THE SHOWER

ThenextvisitIpaidtoNancyBrownwasinthesecondweekinMarch:for,thoughIhadmanyspareminutesduringtheday,Iseldomcouldlookuponanhourasentirelymyownsince,whereeverythingwaslefttothecapricesofMissMatildaandhersister,therecouldbenoorderorregularity.WhateveroccupationIchose,whennotactuallybusiedaboutthemortheirconcerns,Ihad,asitwere,tokeepmyloinsgirded,myshoesonmyfeet,andmystaffinmyhandfornottobeimmediatelyforthcomingwhencalledfor,wasregardedasagraveandinexcusableoffence:notonlybymypupilsandtheirmother,butbytheveryservant,whocameinbreathlesshastetocallme,exclaiming,“You’retogototheschoolroomdirectly,mum,theyoungladiesisWAITING!!”Climaxofhorror!actuallywaitingfortheirgoverness!!! ButthistimeIwasprettysureofanhourortwotomyselfforMatildawaspreparingforalongride,andRosaliewasdressingforadinner-partyatLadyAshby’s:soItooktheopportunityofrepairingtothewidow’scottage,whereIfoundherinsomeanxietyabouthercat,whichhadbeenabsentallday.Icomfortedherwithasmanyanecdotesofthatanimal’srovingpropensitiesasIcouldrecollect.“I’mfearedo’th’gamekeepers,”saidshe:“that’sall’atIthinkon.Ifth’younggentlemenhadbeenathome,Ishoulda’thoughtthey’dbeensettingtheirdogsather,an’worriedher,poorthing,astheydidmanyapoorthing’scatbutIhaven’tthattobefearedonnow.”Nancy’seyeswerebetter,butstillfarfromwell:shehadbeentryingtomakeaSundayshirtforherson,buttoldmeshecouldonlybeartodoalittlebitatitnowandthen,sothatitprogressedbutslowly,thoughthepoorladwanteditsadly.SoIproposedtohelpheralittle,afterIhadreadtoher,forIhadplentyoftimethatevening,andneednotreturntilldusk.Shethankfullyacceptedtheoffer.“An’you’llb