C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson

“ When the beast sees you without your veil—oh, hang it, you must n't let him come near you, you know."
"He is n't likely to take the slightest notice of his step-father's wife 's maid," said I, "especially as he 's dying to marry the American heiress here." ”

“ He is n't a snob. But I rather hoped he would have forgotten. I came as a stranger, brought by a friend of his and mine, was here only for a meal (we were motoring then, too) —and it 's three years ago."
"But the marquise?"
"She 's a bran new one. I fancied I 'd heard that the wife died. This one has the air of a bride, and I should say she 's an American."
"Yes. She is. The maid who showed me my room told me. The other girl who came out of doors, is her sister. They 're fearfully rich, it seems, and that young brute wants to marry her." ”

“ She had felt a fool, she said, not being able to dress for dinner, but then no one else could touch her, for jewels; and did n't every one just stare, at the table, though, of course, she had n't put on her tiara, as that would n't have been suitable with a blouse and short skirt! Sir Samuel's stepson had been quite nasty and superior about the jewels, when he got at her, afterward, and she believed would have been rude if he 'd dared, but luckily he did n't know her well enough for that ”

“ I thought. "Or I would n't put it past her to telegraph!"
("Put it past" is an expression of Cousin Catherine's own, which I always disliked; but it came in handy now.)
I tried to console myself, though, by reflecting that, if I were careful, I ought to be able to avoid the duchess. The ways of great ladies and little maids lie far apart in grand houses and ⸺
"There is going to be a servants' ball to-morrow night," announced Lady Turnour, while my thoughts struggled out of the slough of despond. "And I want you to be the best dressed one there, for my credit. ”