Wait a minute."
He proceeded discontentedly with his breakfast. Louisa waited resignedly
at the door.
"I think your mistress has been in bad spirits lately," he resumed, with
a sudden outbreak of petulance.
"My mistress has not been very cheerful, sir."
"What do you mean by not very cheerful? Do you mean to prevaricate? Am
I nobody in the house? Am I to be kept in the dark about everything? Is
your mistress to go away on her own affairs, and leave me at home like
a child--and am I not even to ask a question about her? Am I to be
prevaricated with by a servant? I won't be prevaricated with! Not very
cheerful? What do you mean by not very cheerful?"
"I only meant that my mistress was not in good spirits, sir."
"Why couldn't you say it, then? Don't you know the value of words? The
most dreadful consequences sometimes happen from not knowing the value
of words. Did your mistress tell you she was going to London?"
"Yes, sir."
"What did you think when your mistress told you she was going to London?
Did you think it odd she was going without me?"
"I did not presume to think it odd, sir.--Is there anything more I can
do for you, if you please, sir?"
"What sort of a morning is it out? Is it warm? Is the sun on the
garden?"
"Yes, sir.
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