"You are an insolent woman! I have borne with you long enough--I will
bear with you no longer. When your month is up, you go!"
In those words Lady Lundie dismissed Hester Dethridge from her service.
Not the slightest change passed over the sinister tranquillity of
the cook. She bowed her head again, in acknowledgment of the sentence
pronounced on her--dropped her slate at her side--turned about--and left
the room. The woman was alive in the world, and working in the world;
and yet (so far as all human interests were concerned) she was as
completely out of the world as if she had been screwed down in her
coffin, and laid in her grave.
Lady Lundie's maid came into the room as Hester left it.
"Go up stairs to Miss Blanche," said her mistress, "and say I want her
here. Wait a minute!" She paused, and considered. Blanche might decline
to submit to her step-mother's interference with her. It might be
necessary to appeal to the higher authority of her guardian. "Do you
know where Sir Patrick is?" asked Lady Lundie.
"I heard Simpson say, my lady, that Sir Patrick was at the stables."
"Send Simpson with a message. My compliments to Sir Patrick--and I wish
to see him immediately.
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