If Nell wanted work that would prevent her dwelling upon her heart's
loss, she had certainly found it at Egerton House. Before a week had
passed she had slipped into her position of presiding genius; and,
marvelous to relate, seeing how young and inexperienced she was, she
filled it very well.
At first she was considerably worried by the condition of domestic
affairs. Meals were prepared for persons who might or might not be
present to eat them. Sometimes she would sit down alone to a lunch
sufficient for half a dozen persons; at others, Lady Wolfer would come
down at the last moment and say: "Oh, Nell, dear"--it had very quickly come to "Nell"--"ever so many
women are coming to lunch--nine or ten, I forget which. I ought to have
told you, oughtn't I? And I really meant to, but somehow it slipped out
of my head. And they are mostly people with good appetites. Is there
anything in the house? But, there! I know you will manage somehow, won't
you, dear?"
And Nell would summon the long-suffering Mrs. Hubbard, and additions
would hastily be made to the small menu, and Nell would come in looking
as cool and composed as if the guests had run no risk of starvation.
The dinner hour, as Lady Wolfer had said, was eight, but it was often
nine or half-past before she and Lord Wolfer put in an appearance; and
more than once during the week the earl had been accompanied by persons
whom he had brought from the House or some meeting, and expected to have
them provided for.
The cook never knew how many guests to expect; the coachman never knew
when the horses and carriages would be wanted; the footmen were called
upon to leave their proper duties and wait upon a mob of "advanced
women" collected for a meeting--and a scramble feed--in the dining room,
when perhaps a proper lunch should have been in preparation for an
ordinary party.
There was no rest, no cessation of the stir and turmoil in the great
house, and amid it all Nell moved like a kind of good fairy, contriving
to just keep the whole thing from smashing up in chaotic confusion.
Presently everybody began to rely upon her, and came to her for
assistance; and the earl himself was uneasy and dissatisfied if she were
not at the head of the breakfast table, at which he and she very often
made a duet. He seemed to see Lady Wolfer very seldom, and gradually
got into the habit of communicating with her through Nell. It would be: "May I trouble you so far, Miss Lorton, as to ask Lady Wolfer if she
intends going to the Wrexhold reception to-night?" Or: "Lady Wolfer
wishes for a check for these bills. May I ask you to give it to her?
Thank you very much. I am afraid I am giving you a great deal of
trouble."