The visitor regarded her with a look of lofty contempt, and, having
deliberately closed her umbrella, advanced towards the stairs. Clem
drew into the back regions for a few moments, but as soon as she
heard the closing of a door in the upper part of the house, she too
ascended, going on tip-toe, with a noiselessness which indicated
another side of her character. Having reached the room which the
visitor had entered, she brought her ear close to the keyhole, and
remained in that attitude for a long time--nearly twenty minutes,
in fact. Her sudden and swift return to the foot of the stairs was
followed by the descent of the woman in the showy bonnet.
'Miss Peckover I' cried the latter when she had reached the foot of
the stairs.
'Well, what is it?' asked Clem, seeming to come up from the kitchen.
'Will you 'ave the goodness to go an' speak to Mrs. Hewett for a
hinstant?' said the woman, with much affectation of refined speech.
'All right! I will just now, if I've time.'
The visitor tossed her head and departed, whereupon Clem at once ran
upstairs. In five minutes she was back in the kitchen.
'See 'ere,' she addressed Jane.
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