The day on which the doctor took his newly-appointed nurse with him to
the hospital became an occasion associated with distressing
recollections in the memory of Iris.
In the morning, Fanny Mere had asked for leave to go out. For some time
past this request had been so frequently granted, with such poor
results so far as the maid's own designs were concerned, that Lady
Harry decided on administering a tacit reproof, by means of a refusal.
Fanny made no attempt at remonstrance; she left the room in silence.
Half an hour later, Iris had occasion to ring for her attendant. The
bell was answered by the cook--who announced, in explanation of her
appearance, that Fanny Mere had gone out. More distressed than
displeased by this reckless disregard of her authority, on the part of
a woman who had hitherto expressed the most grateful sense of her
kindness, Iris only said: "Send Fanny to me as soon as she comes back."
Two hours passed before the truant maid returned.
"I refused to let you go out this morning," Lady Harry said; "and you
have taken the liberty of leaving the house for two hours. You might
have made me understand, in a more becoming manner, that you intended
to leave my service."
Steadily respectful, Fanny answered: "I don't wish to leave your
ladyship's service."
"Then what does your conduct mean?"
"It means, if you please, that I had a duty to do--and did it."
"A duty to yourself?" Iris asked.
"No, my lady; a duty to you."
As she made that strange reply the door was opened, and Lord Harry
entered the room. When he saw Fanny Mere he turned away again, in a
hurry, to go out. "I didn't know your maid was with you," he said.
"Another time will do."
His permitting a servant to be an obstacle in his way, when he wished
to speak to his wife, was a concession so entirely unbecoming in the
master of the house, and so strangely contrary to his customary sense
of what was due to himself, that Iris called him back in astonishment.
She looked at her maid, who at once understood her, and withdrew. "What
can you possibly be thinking of?" she said to her husband, when they
were alone. Putting that question, she noticed an embarrassment in his
manner, and an appearance of confusion in his face, which alarmed her.
"Has something happened?" she asked; "and is it so serious that you
hesitate to mention it to me?"