A CONFIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Having finished her visit of ceremony, Miss Panney asked permission of Miriam to see Molly Tooney.

That woman was, in a measure, her protege, and she had some little business with her.

Declining to have the cook sent for, Miss Panney descended to the kitchen.
She had not talked with Molly more than five minutes, and had not approached the real subject of the interview, which concerned the social relations between the Haverleys and the Dranes, when the Irishwoman lifted up her hands, and opened wide her eyes.
"The Saints an' the Sinners!" she exclaimed, "if here isn't that auld drab of a sausage, that cook of the docther's, a comin' here again to tell me how to cook for them Dranes.

Bad luck to them, they don't pay me nothin', an' only give me trouble." Miss Panney turned quickly, and through the window she saw La Fleur approaching the kitchen door.
"She comes here to tell you how to cook for those people ?" said Miss Panney, quickly.
"Indade she does, an' it's none of her business, nather, the meddlin' auld porpoise." "Molly," said Miss Panney, "go away and leave me here.

I want to talk to this woman." "Which is more than I do," said the cook, and straightway departed to the floor above.
La Fleur had come to see Mrs.Drane, but perceiving Miss Panney's phaeton at the door, she had concluded that there was company in the house, and had consequently betaken herself to the kitchen to make inquiries.