'They shan't begin by scolding me for being late,' she thought, and she
began her toilette.

Just as she came to her hair, the old nurse knocked and asked whether
she wanted help.

'Thank you, I've been used to dress myself,' said Dolores, rather
proudly.

'I'll help you now, missy, for prayers are over, and they are all gone
to breakfast, only my lady said you were not to be disturbed, and Miss
Mysie will be up presently again to bring you down.'

She spoke low, and in an accent that Dolores afterwards learnt was
Scotch; and she was a tall, thin, bony woman, with sandy hair, who
looked as if she had never been young. She brushed and plaited the
dark hair in a manner that seemed to the owner more wearisome and less
tender than Caroline's fashion; and did not talk more than to inquire
into the fashion of wearing it, and to say that Miss Mohun's boxes had
been sent from London, demanding the keys that they might be unpacked.

'I can do that myself,' said Dolores, who did not like any stranger to
meddle with her things.

'Ye could tak them oot, nae doubt, but I must sort them. It's my
lady's orders,' said Mrs. Halfpenny, with all the determination of the
sergeant, her husband, and Dolores, with a sense of despair, and a sort
of expectation that she should be deprived of all her treasures on one
plea or another, gave up the keys.