wed to continue. Hilda was not seriously alarmed, because she
had the most perfect confidence in George's skill to restore order and
calm, and to conquer every difficulty of management; and she also put a
certain trust in herself; but the menacing and vicious accents of Louisa
startled her, and she sympathized with Sarah Gailey, for whom
humiliation was assuredly in store--if not immediately at the tongue of
Louisa, then later when George would have to hint the truth to her about
her decadence.

The dispute on the attic landing appeared to be concerning linen which
Louisa had omitted to remove from Florrie's abandoned couch in her
kennel.

"I ain't going to touch her sheets, not for nobody!" Louisa proclaimed
savagely. And by that single phrase, with its implications, she laid
unconsciously bare the sordid baseness of her ageing heart; she exposed
by her mere intonation of the word 'sheets' all the foulness of jealousy
and thwarted salacity that was usually concealed beneath her tight dress
and neat apron, and beneath her prim gestures and deferential tones. Her
undisciplined voice rang spinsterishly down the staircase, outraging it,
defiling the whole interior.

Hilda as silently as possible unlatched the door of the bedroom, and
stood with ear cocked. Should she issue forth and interfere, or should
she remain discreetly where she was? Almost in the same instant she
heard the cautious unlatching of the drawing-room door; two of the
Watchetts were there listening also. And there came up from the ground
floor a faint giggle. The cook, at the kitchen door, was enjoying
herself and giggling moral support to her colleague. The giggle proved
that the master was out, that the young mistress had not yet established
a definite position, and that during recent weeks the old mistress must
have been steadily dissipating her own authority. Hilda peered along the
landing from her lair, and upstairs and downstairs; she could see
nothing but senseless carpets and brass rods and steps and banisters;
but she knew that the entire household--she had the sensation that the
very house itself--was alert and eavesdropping.

There was a hesitating movement on the unseen stairs above, and then
Hilda could see Sarah Gailey's felt slippers and the valance of her
skirt. And she could hear Sarah's emotional breathing.

"Very well, Louisa, I've done!" Sarah's voice was quieter now. She was
trying to control it, and to a limited extent was contr