We had a lovely time." "I wish I had," said Miss Pidsley.

"At any rate I should have had some tea, which is more than I got at home." "No tea!" Kitty was shocked.

No wonder she found her mistress tired and overdone.

"Shall I tell them to get you some now ?" she asked, moving towards the door.
"Oh no!" cried Miss Pidsley, alarmed.

"I would not ask for anything while matters are in such a state in the kitchen." Then she laughed with some embarrassment at her confession of fear.
"I will go and take off my things now," said Kitty, and she left rather abruptly and ran quickly to her room.
The throwing off of her hat and coat occupied less than a minute; then, taking out from a tin box a spirit-lamp and kettle, she filled the latter and put it on to boil.