But no, _impossible_! After all the kindness and the forethought! She dismissed it from her mind.
The interview with the housekeeper was an ordeal to the gentle inexperienced woman.

But her entire lack of any sort of pretension was in itself ingratiating; and her manner had the timid charm of her character.
Mrs.Mawson, who might have bristled or sulked in stronger hands, in order to mark her distaste for the advent of a mistress in the house she had been long accustomed to rule, was soon melted by the docility of the little lady, and graciously consented to see her own plans approved _en bloc_, by one so frankly ignorant of how a country house party should be conducted.

Then it was the turn of old Fenn; a more difficult matter, since he did genuinely want instructions, and Mrs.Friend had none to give him.

But kind looks, and sympathetic murmurs, mingled with honest delight in the show of azaleas in the conservatory carried her through.
Old Fenn too, instead of resenting her, adopted her.

She went back to the house flushed with a little modest triumph.
Housewifely instincts revived in her.