Very attentive and gentlemanlike, I call't."
"Very," agreed Ann with becoming gravity. "And who else--hasn't any one
else"--correcting herself quickly--"been to inquire?".
"'Deed they have! 'Twas 'Can't I see Miss Lovell to-day, Maria?' with first
one and then t'other of them. But I told them all the same"--with grim
triumph. "'Not till I gives the word,' I told them."
"Who has called, then?" asked Ann curiously.
"Her ladyship up to White Windows, she came, and Mrs. Hilyard, and the
rector and that there long-faced sister of his--all of 'em have been, miss.
And the squire--he've sent his groom down to ask how you were going on."
"The squire?"
"Mr. Coventry, I'm meaning--he as pulled you out of the water. You ought to
be main grateful to him, Miss Ann, for sure."
A faint colour stole up into Ann's white cheeks.
"Oh, I am. You had better send back a message by the groom to that effect,"
she said curtly.
Maria surveyed her with frank disapproval.
"You should take shame to yourself, speaking that way, miss," she
admonished severely. "But I expect you'm hungry-like, that's what 'tis.
And I've a beautiful young chicken roasting for your lunch. You'll feel
different when you've got a bit of something solid inside you.
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