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