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ok over all her “toilettes;” as she called frocks; to furbish up any that were “passées;” and to air and arrange the new。 For herself; she did nothing but caper about in the front chambers; jump on and off the bedsteads; and lie on the mattresses and piled…up bolsters and pillows before the enormous fires roaring in the chimneys。 From school duties she was exonerated: Mrs。 Fairfax had pressed me into her service; and I was all day in the storeroom; helping (or hindering) her and the cook; learning to make custards and cheese…cakes and French pastry; to truss game and garnish desert…dishes。
The party were expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon; in time for dinner at six。 During the intervening period I had no time to nurse chimeras; and I believe I was as active and gay as anybody—Adèle excepted。 Still; now and then; I received a damping check to my cheerfulness; and was; in spite of myself; thrown back on the region of doubts and portents; and dark conjectures。 This was when I chanced to see the third…storey staircase door (which of late had always been kept locked) open slowly; and give passage to the form of Grace Poole; in prim cap; white apron; and handkerchief; when I watched her glide along the gallery; her quiet tread muffled in a list slipper; when I saw her look into the bustling; topsy…turvy bedrooms;—just say a word; perhaps; to the charwoman about the proper way to polish a grate; or clean a marble mantelpiece; or take stains from papered walls; and then pass on。 She would thus descend to the kitchen once a day; eat her dinner; smoke a moderate pipe on the hearth; and go back; carrying her pot of porter with her; for her private solace; in her own gloomy; upper haunt。 Only one hour in the twenty…four did she pass with her fellow…servants below; all
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