One housemaid said to the other, with a knowing look, 'Best leave it to
her;' and they passed on to their work in the other rooms.

Mrs. Kirkpatrick opened the door, and stood aghast at the sight of
Molly.

'Why, I quite forgot you!' she said at length. 'Nay, don't cry; you'll
make yourself not fit to be seen. Of course I must take the
consequences of your over-sleeping yourself, and if I can't manage to
get you back to Hollingford to-night, you shall sleep with me, and
we'll do our best to send you home to-morrow morning.'

'But papa!' sobbed out Molly. 'He always wants me to make tea for him;
and I have no night-things.'

'Well, don't go and make a piece of work about what can't be helped
now. I'll lend you night-things, and your papa must do without your
making tea for him to-night. And another time don't over-sleep yourself
in a strange house; you may not always find yourself among such
hospitable people as they are here. Why now, if you don't cry and make
a figure of yourself, I'll ask if you may come in to dessert with
Master Smythe and the little ladies. You shall go into the nursery, and
have some tea with them; and then you must come back here and brush
your hair and make yourself tidy. I think it is a very fine thing for
you to be stopping in such a grand house as this; many a little girl
would like nothing better.'

During this speech she was arranging her _toilette_ for dinner--taking
off her black morning gown; putting on her dressing-gown; shaking her
long soft auburn hair over her shoulders, and glancing about the room