"
Contiguous to her dressing-room, which overlooked the quadrangle,
there was a small alcove which had been converted into a storeroom
for the array of trunks and dress boxes that Lady O'Moy had brought
from England. A door opening directly from her dressing room
communicated with this alcove, and of that door Bridget, her maid,
was in possession of the key.
As she hurried now indoors she happened to meet Bridget on the
stairs. The maid announced herself on her way to supper in the
servants' quarters, and apologised for her presumption in assuming
that her ladyship would no further require her services that evening.
But since it fell in so admirably with her ladyship's own wishes, she
insisted with quite unusual solicitude, with vehemence almost, that
Bridget should proceed upon her way.
"Just give me the key of the alcove," she said. "There are one or
two things I want to get."
"Can't I get them, your ladyship?"
"Thank you, Bridget. I prefer to get them, myself."
There was no more to be said. Bridget produced a bunch of keys,
which she surrendered to her mistress, having picked out for her the
one required.
Lady O'Moy went up, to come down again the moment that Bridget had
disappeared.
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