There would be no dogs at this time of year.
Parrots were urged upon her again, but tentatively. She chuckled them
away, musically, with real relish for the picture. She was sure there
would be no parrots. Now she must see about the bedrooms--but Mrs. Benson
peered round into her glowing face.
"And what about your supper, Miss Percival? It's just upon ready. And
there's a sweet-bread."
Miss Percival almost caressed the ridiculous good soul. Her arm remained
about her shoulder, her hand touched it. "How nice of you! I'll go and get
ready at once. Then I'll see what rooms we had better have. Wasn't it
lucky we did the drawing-rooms last week?"
Gloom gathered again. Mrs. Benson thought that some people didn't deserve
their luck. It was clear to whom she referred; certainly not to Miss
Percival, for instance. But the young lady, with really extraordinary
simplicity, replied that surely Mr. Ingram deserved credit for having
well-chosen his ministers. "Yourself," she said, "for the kitchen, and me
for the hall." She exploded this little bomb with some heightening of
colour.
Mrs. Benson, glancing at her sideways, observed the blush, and was scared.
She blinked. Miss Percival's blush deepened.
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