s it. My Lady
Ludlow has given a party, just like any plebeian amongst us. We had
tea and toast in the blue drawing-room, old John Footman waiting with
Tom Diggles, the lad that used to frighten away crows in Farmer Hale's
fields, following in my lady's livery, hair powdered and everything.
Mrs. Medlicott made tea in my lady's own room. My lady looked like a
splendid fairy queen of mature age, in black velvet, and the old lace,
which I have never seen her wear before since my lord's death. But
the company? you'll say. Why, we had the parson of Clover, and the
parson of Headleigh, and the parson of Merribank, and the three
parsonesses; and Farmer Donkin, and two Miss Donkins; and Mr. Gray (of
course), and myself and Bessy; and Captain and Mrs. James; yes, and
Mr. and Mrs. Brooke; think of that! I am not sure the parsons liked
it; but he was there. For he has been helping Captain James to get my
lady's land into order; and then his daughter married the agent; and
Mr. Gray (who ought to know) says that, after all, Baptists are not
such bad people; and he was right against them at one time, as you may
remember. Mrs. Brooke is a rough diamond, to be sure. People have
said that of me, I know. But, being a Galindo, I learnt manners in my
youth and can take them up when I choose. But Mrs. Brooke never
learnt manners, I'll be bound. When John Footman handed her the tray
with the tea-cups, she looked up at him as if she were sorely puzzled
by that way of going on. I was sitting next to her, so I pretended
not to see her perplexity, and put her cream and sugar in for her, and
was all ready to pop it into her hands,--when who should come up, but
that impudent lad Tom Diggles (I call him lad, for all his hair is
powdered, for you know that it is not natural gray hair), with his
tray full of cakes and what not, all as good as Mrs. Medlicott could
make them. By this time, I should tell you, all the parsonesses were
looking at Mrs. Brooke, for she had shown her want of breeding before;
and the parsonesses, who were just a step above her in manners, were
very much inclined to smile at her doings and sayings. Well! what
does she do, but pull out a clean Bandanna pocket-handkerchief all red
and yellow silk, spread it over her best silk gown; it was, like
enough, a new one, for I had it from Sally, who had it from her cousin