Mary did not neglect the invalid
during this new phase of her existence. Lady Maulevrier was a lover of
routine, and she liked her granddaughter to go to her at the same hour
every day. From eleven to twelve was the time for Mary's duty as
amanuensis. Sometimes there were no letters to be written. Sometimes
there were several; but her ladyship rarely allowed the task to go
beyond the stroke of noon. At noon Mary was free, and free till five
o'clock, when she was generally in attendance, ready to give Lady
Maulevrier her afternoon tea, and sit and talk with her, and tell her
any scraps of local news which she had gathered in the day.
There were days on which her ladyship preferred to take her tea alone,
and Mary was left free to follow her own devices till dinner-time.
'I do not feel equal even to your society to-day, my dear,' her ladyship
would say; 'go and enjoy yourself with your dogs and your tennis;'
forgetting that there was very seldom anybody on the premises with whom
Lady Mary could play tennis.
But in these lonely days of Mary Haselden's life there was one crowning
bliss which was almost enough to sweeten solitude, and take away the
sting of separation; and that was the delight of expecting and receiving
her lover's letters.
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