She and her mistress, and Kit's mate, and the old woman receiving the word for a cup of tea, were soon in the passage.

Kit's mate had a ready obedience for his pay, nothing else,--no counsel at all, not a suggestion to a head knocked to a pudding by Madge's jump and my lord's paymaster here upon the scene.
'My lady was to go down Wales way, sir.' 'That may be ordered after.' 'I 'm to take my lady to my lord ?' and, 'Does it mean my lady wants a fly ?' Kit asked, and harked back on whether Madge had seen my lord.
'At five in the morning ?--don't sham donkey with me,' said Gower.
The business looked inclined to be leaky, but which the way for proving himself other than a donkey puzzled Kit: so much so, that a shove made him partly grateful.

Madge's clever countermove had stunned his judgement.

He was besides acting subordinate to his patron's paymaster; and by the luck of it, no voice of woman interposed.

The countess and her maid stood by like a disinterested couple.