, it's you, is it, Mrs. Anderson?

JUDITH (very politely--almost patronizingly). Yes. Can I do anything
for you, Mrs. Dudgeon? Can I help to get the place ready before they
come to read the will?

MRS. DUDGEON (stiffly). Thank you, Mrs. Anderson, my house is always
ready for anyone to come into.

MRS. ANDERSON (with complacent amiability). Yes, indeed it is. Perhaps
you had rather I did not intrude on you just now.

MRS. DUDGEON. Oh, one more or less will make no difference this
morning, Mrs. Anderson. Now that you're here, you'd better stay. If you
wouldn't mind shutting the door! (Judith smiles, implying "How stupid
of me" and shuts it with an exasperating air of doing something pretty
and becoming.) That's better. I must go and tidy myself a bit. I
suppose you don't mind stopping here to receive anyone that comes until
I'm ready.

JUDITH (graciously giving her leave). Oh yes, certainly. Leave them to
me, Mrs. Dudgeon; and take your time. (She hangs her cloak and bonnet
on the rack.)

MRS. DUDGEON (half sneering). I thought that would be more in your way
than getting the house ready. (Essie comes back.) Oh, here you are!
(Severely) Come here: let me see you. (Essie timidly goes to her. Mrs.
Dudgeon takes her roughly by the arm and pulls her round to inspect the
results of her attempt to clean and tidy herself--results which show
little practice and less conviction.) Mm! That's what you call doing
your hair properly, I suppose. It's easy to see what you are, and how
you were brought up. (She throws her arms away, and goes on,
peremptorily.) Now you listen to me and do as you're told. You sit down
there in the corner by the fire; and when the company comes don't dare
to speak until you're spoken to. (Essie creeps away to the fireplace.)
Your father's people had better see you and know you're there: they're
as much bound to keep you from starvation as I am. At any rate they
might help. But let me have no chattering and making free with them, as
if you were their equal. Do you hear?

ESSIE. Yes.

MRS. DUDGEON. Well, then go and do as you're told.

(Essie sits down miserably on the corner of the fender furthest from
the door.) Never mind her, Mrs. Anderson: you know who she is and what
she is. If she gives you any trouble, just tell me; and I'll settle
accounts with her. (Mrs. Dudgeon goes into the bedroom, shutting the
door sharply behind her as if even it had to be made to do its duty
with a ruthless hand.)