‘Would your ladyship please to say what your ladyship means?’

In return for this insolent challenge to throw off the mask, the Countess felt justified in punishing her by being explicit.  ’Your irregularities are not of yesterday,’ she said, kindly making use of a word of double signification still.

‘Thank you, my lady.’  Conning accepted the word in its blackest meaning.  ’I am obliged to you.  If your ladyship is to be believed, my character is not worth much.  But I can make distinctions, my lady.’

Something very like an altercation was continued in a sharp, brief undertone; and then Evan, waking up to the affairs of the hour, heard Conning say: 

‘I shall not ask your ladyship to give me a character.’

The Countess answering with pathos:  ’It would, indeed, be to give you one.’

He was astonished that the Countess should burst into tears when Conning had departed, and yet more so that his effort to console her should bring a bolt of wrath upon himself.

’Now, Evan, now see what you have done for us-do, and rejoice at it.  The very menials insult us.  You heard what that creature said?  She can make distinctions.  Oh!  I could beat her.  They know it:  all the servants know it:  I can see it in their faces.  I feel it when I pass them.  The insolent wretches treat us as impostors; and this Conning—­to defy me!  Oh! it comes of my devotion to you.  I am properly chastized.  I passed Rose’s maid on the stairs, and her reverence was barely perceptible.’

Evan murmured that he was very sorry, adding, foolishly:  ’Do you really care, Louisa, for what servants think and say?’

The Countess sighed deeply:  ’Oh! you are too thickskinned!  Your mother from top to toe!  It is too dreadful!  What have I done to deserve it?  Oh, Evan, Evan!’

Her head dropped in her lap.  There was something ludicrous to Evan in this excess of grief on account of such a business; but he was tender-hearted and wrought upon to declare that, whether or not he was to blame for his mother’s intrusion that afternoon, he was ready to do what he could to make up to the Countess for her sufferings:  whereat the Countess sighed again:  asked him what he possibly could do, and doubted his willingness to accede to the most trifling request.

’No; I do in verity believe that were I to desire you to do aught for your own good alone, you would demur, Van.’

He assured her that she was mistaken.

‘We shall see,’ she said.

‘And if once or twice, I have run counter to you, Louisa—­’

‘Abominable language!’ cried the Countess, stopping her ears like a child.  ’Do not excruciate me so.  You laugh!  My goodness! what will you come to!’

Evan checked his smile, and, taking her hand, said: 

’I must tell you; that, on the whole, I see nothing to regret in what has happened to-day.  You may notice a change in the manners of the servants and some of the country squiresses, but I find none in the bearing of the real ladies, the true gentlemen, to me.’