"However, he insists on your
going to this ball."
Julia begged hard to be excused: said she was in no humour for balls: and
Mrs. Dodd objecting that the tickets had actually been purchased, she
asked leave to send them to the Dartons. "They will be a treat to Rose
and Alice; they seldom go out: mamma, I do so fear they are poorer than
people think. May I?"
"It would be but kind," said Mrs. Dodd. "Though really why my child
should always be sacrificed to other people's children----"
"Oh, a mighty sacrifice!" said Julia. She sat down and enclosed the
tickets to Rose Darton, with a little sugared note. Sarah, being out,
Elizabeth took it. Sarah met her at the gate, but did not announce her
return: she lurked in ambush till Julia happened to go to her own room,
then followed her, and handed Alfred's missive, and watched her slily,
and being herself expeditious as the wind in matters of the heart, took
it for granted the enclosure was something very warm indeed; so she said
with feigned simplicity, "I suppose it is all right now, miss?" and
retreated swelling with a secret, and tormented her fellow-servants all
day with innuendoes dark as Erebus.
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