Frankness is one of her distinguishing qualities.
'My box is still at my friend's,' she explained. 'You see, when I goes
to a new place I never 'ave my luggage sent on until I feel I'm going
to settle. It saves a lot o' bother--if I don't stop.'
'I hadn't thought of that,' I commented feebly.
'I brought a clean cap and another pair o' stockings with me, so I'm
all right for a fortnight,' she went on. Her creed, like her change of
underclothing, was obviously simple. Mournfully I withdrew from the
kitchen to meditate.
So we were on probation. It was a tremulous time. I bade Henry tread
softly and not to forget to rub his feet on the mat. I gave all my
orders to Elizabeth in a voice which blended deference with
supplication. I strove hard to live up to what I thought must be her
conception of the Perfect Mistress. And when, the fortnight expired,
Carter Paterson drove up and deposited a small corded box on the hall
mat, I felt it to be a personal triumph. But Henry said I had nothing
to do with it. To this day he declares that Elizabeth decided to stop
because she so earnestly desired to serve such a gentle master.
CHAPTER III
No doubt you will have guessed that Henry is a better and sounder
writer than I. He has helped me a lot with his criticism and advice,
for he is fastidious regarding style. There used to be a time, before
he came along, when I walked in darkness, often beginning sentences
with conjunctions and ending them with adverbs; I have even split
infinitives and gone on my way rejoicing.
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