At the sight of her visitor she beamed and made a
suggestion of curtsey.
"How do you do, Mrs. Welden?" said Betty. "I am Lady Anstruthers'
sister, Miss Vanderpoel. I thought I would like to come and see you."
"Thank you, miss, I am obliged for the kindness, miss. Won't you come in
and have a chair?"
There were no signs of decrepitude about her, and she had a cheery
old eye. The tiny front room was neat, though there was scarcely space
enough in it to contain the table covered with its blue-checked cotton
cloth, the narrow sofa, and two or three chairs. There were a few small
coloured prints, and a framed photograph or so on the walls, and on the
table was a Bible, and a brown earthenware teapot, and a plate.
"Tom Wood's wife, that's neighbour next door to me," she said, "gave me
a pinch o' tea--an' I've just been 'avin it. Tom Woods, miss, 'as just
been took on by Muster Kedgers as one of the new under gardeners at the
Court."
Betty found her delightful. She made no complaints, and was evidently
pleased with the excitement of receiving a visitor. The truth was, that
in common with every other old woman, she had secretly aspired to being
visited some day by the amazing young lady from "Meriker.
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