M

y fear that I should be forced to spend much time with Betsy during the party turned out to be unfounded. Once she made her hasty retreat, we saw nothing of her for over an hour. I was beginning to become concerned: this was her party, and it was not in the best of taste for the hostess to disappear for a great length of time. In addition, it occurred to me that she perhaps thought that I would take on her responsibilities, since I had been so much involved in the building of the green-house and the party preparations. And in fact, the leader of the Gimmerton band approached me - someone had pointed me out to him as a responsible party - wondering if the band should begin playing. I indicated that they should and soon the party was filled with the lilting sounds of "The Green Fairy Waltz."

I went in search of one of her servants and finally found Mary, her cook and general assistant.

"Where is your mistress?" I enquired.

"She's having a lie-down, Mr. Acton, she's not feeling well" she replied. Then she busied herself with setting out more cakes and roasted walnuts.

"Please go and express my concern," I replied, "and ask her when she might rejoin the party. The guests are asking after her." Mary curtsied and went off towards the house.

"What kind of hostess leaves in the middle of a party?" said Jane. "That's very rude."

"Indeed, Lady Jane."

"And did you notice the careless manner in which that servant adjusted the table cloth just now as you spoke to her? It does not hang correctly at all. Scandalous."

As we strolled the grounds, Jane pointed out for me all the many and varied errors Betsy had committed in the creation of the party. It really was quite miraculous that the guests seemed to be having such a good time, in spite of it all, but no doubt the excellent band and the flowing French wine had something to do with this. And then, since Jane herself was so utterly perfect, perhaps she was more sensitive to imperfection than the average person.

"Well, Oliver" she said "I think you should write down a list of all these deficiencies for her, so that she is aware of them and can take some care to remedy the problems."

One of the servants, a young lady, assistant to Mary, was working nearby, and Jane said, almost into her face: "although I'm afraid that Mrs. Corning cannot be too concerned with quality, as she clearly has very low standards when it comes to retaining servants. Certainly it is not an easy task to find good help, these days - yourself and your sister excepted, of course, Daweesa."

"Aye, Miss Jane, thanks fer nooticing." said Miss Whitlander and gave a little whinny of self-satisfaction.

"But," continued Jane, "this one seems particularly stupid and careless. I shouldn't wonder she doesn't ever get anything right."

"Indeed, Lady Jane" I replied. Ah such an angel of perfection she was!