She had originally been brought up as a child by Mrs.
Wainwright, in that Dorsetshire parsonage, and had since remained firm to the fortunes of the young lady, whose maid she had become on her first marriage.

As her mistress had been promoted, so had Jones.
At first she had been Kitty to all the world, now she was Mrs.Jones to the world at large, Jones to Sir Thomas and her mistress and of late years to Herbert, and known by all manner of affectionate sobriquets to the young ladies.

Sometimes they would call her Johnny, and sometimes the Duchess; but doubtless they and Mrs.Jones thoroughly understood each other.

By the whole establishment Mrs.
Jones was held in great respect, and by the younger portion in extreme awe.

Her breakfast and tea she had in a little sitting-room by herself; but the solitude of this was too tremendous for her to endure at dinner-time.