Patricia meant royal.

Martha meant the ruler of the house.
They were pleased at these revelations.
The week before the great event was expected, Martha had a notion one day.

She wished to visit the factory.

Josiah interpreted this as the happiest of auguries.
"After seven generations," was his cryptic remark, "you simply can't keep them away.

It's bred in the bone...." He drove Martha down to the works himself, and took her through the various shops, some of which were of such a length that when you stood at one end, the other seemed to vanish into distance.
Everything went well until they reached the shipping room where a travelling crane was rolling on its tracks overhead, carrying a load of boxes.