She had the soft, graceful manner and sweet voice of her employer.

She was slim and had a pretty figure, but was entirely without Edith's charm or beauty.

Vaguely Edith wondered if she would ever have a love affair, ever marry.

She hoped so, but (selfishly) not till Archie went to Eton.
Then she found herself looking at her lonely lunch; she tried to eat, gave it up, asked for a cup of tea.
At last, she could bear the flat no longer.

It was a glorious day, very hot, Edith felt peculiar.