. I
promised to be with Doctor D at seven."

They went down-stairs together. Nelly remonstrated, with great
earnestness against Will's "putting himself off with bread and cheese,
instead of dinner."

"Though you need care the less about it, that the dinner's spoiled
already. The fowls werena much to begin with. It needs sense and
discretion to market, as well as to do most things, and folk that winna
come home at the right hour, must content themselves with things
overdone, or else in the dead thraw."

"I am very sorry Will should lose his dinner," said Graeme; "but they
cannot be long in coming now."

"There's no saying. They may meet in with folk that may keep them to
suit their ain convenience. It has happened before."

More than once, when Fanny had been out with her mother, they had gone
for Arthur and dined at Grove house, without giving due notice at home,
and the rest, after long waiting, had eaten their dinner out of season.
To have a success in her department rendered vain by careless or
culpable delay, was a trial to Nelly at any time. And if Mrs Grove had
anything to do with causing it, the trial was all the greater.

For Nelly--to use her own words--had no patience with that "meddlesome
person." Any interference on her part in household matters, was
considered by her a reflection on the housekeeping of her young ladies
before Mrs Arthur came among them, and was resented accordingly. All
hints, suggestions, recipes, or even direct instructions from her, were
utterly ignored by Nelly, when it could be done without positive
disobedience to Miss Graeme or Mrs Elliott. If direct orders made it
necessary for her to do violence to her feelings to the extent of
availing herself of Mrs Grove's experience, it was done under protest,
or with an open incredulousness as to results, at the same time
irritating and amusing.

She had no reason to suppose that Mrs Grove had anything to do with her
vexation to-night, but she chose to assume it to be so, and following
Graeme into the dining-room, where Will sat contentedly eating his bread
and cheese, she said,--

"As there is no counting on the time of their home-coming, with other
folks' convenience to consult, you had best let me bring up the dinner,
Miss Graeme."

"We will wait a few minutes longer. There is no haste," said Graeme,
quietly.

Graeme sat a long time looking out of the window before they came--so
long that Nelly came up-stairs again