“I saw that frock in Brunt’s three days ago,” Helen began, kissing the tall, tightbound, large-boned woman.

“I know you did, Nell,” Sarah admitted.  “But you needn’t tell me so.  Don’t you like it?”

“I think it’s a dream,” Helen replied, quickly.  “Turn round.”  But there was a certain lack of conviction in her voice, and in Sarah’s manner there was something strained.  Accordingly, they both became extravagantly effusive—­or, at any rate, more effusive than usual, though each was well aware that the artifice was entirely futile.

“All alone?” Sarah asked, when she had recovered from the first shock of the hall’s magnificence.

“Yes,” said Helen.  “It’s Georgiana’s afternoon out, and uncle’s away, and I haven’t got any new servants yet.”

“Mr. Ollerenshaw away!  No one ever heard of such a thing!  If you knew him as well as we do, you’d have fainted with surprise.  It ought to be in the paper.  Where’s he gone to?”

“He’s gone to Derby, to try to buy some property that he says is going very cheap there.  He’s been gone three days now.  He got a letter at breakfast, and said he must go to Derby at once.  However, he had to finish his rents.  The trouble is that his rents never are finished, and I’m bothered all the time by people coming with three and sixpence, or four shillings, and a dirty rent-book!  Oh! and the dirt on the coins!  My dear, you can’t imagine!  There’s one good thing.  He will have to come back for next week’s rents.  Not that I’m sorry he’s gone.  It gives me a chance, you see.  By the time he returns I shall have my servants in.”

“Do tell me what servants you’re going to have?”

“Well, I went to that agency at Oldcastle.  I’ve got a German butler.  He speaks four languages, and has beautiful eyes.”

“A German butler!”

If it had been a German prince Sarah could not have been more startled nor more delighted.

“Yes, and a cook, and two other maids; and a gardener and a boy.  I shall keep Georgiana as my own maid.”

“My child, you’re going it!”

“My child, I came here to go it.”

“And—­and Mr. Ollerenshaw is really pleased?”

Helen laughed.  “Uncle never goes into raptures, you know.  But I hope he will be pleased.  The fact is, he doesn’t know anything about these new servants yet.  He’ll find them installed when he returns.  It will be a little treat for him.  My piano came this morning.  Care to try it?”

“Rather!” said Sarah.  “Well, I never saw anything like it!” This was in reference to her first glimpse of the great drawing-room.  “How you’ve improved it, you dear thing!”

“You see, I have my own cheque-book; it saves worry.”

“I see!” said Sarah, meaningly, putting her purse on the piano, her umbrella on a chair, and herself on the music-stool.

“Shall we have tea?” Helen suggested, after Sarah had performed on the Bechstein.