For Mrs.Gaddesden's type she had an instinctive contempt, the contempt of the clever woman of small means who has had to earn her own living, and to watch in silence the poses and pretences of rich women playing at philanthropy.

But, all the same, she and the servants between them had made Mrs.Gaddesden extremely comfortable, while at the same time rationing her strictly.

'I really can be civil to anybody!' thought Elizabeth complacently.
Suddenly, her own name, and a rush of remarks on the other side of this impenetrable hedge, made her raise her head, startled, from her work, eyes and mouth wide open.
It was Mrs.Gaddesden speaking.
'Yes, she's gone out.

I went into the library just now to ask her to look out a train for me.

She's wonderfully good at Bradshaw.