She had come down with him, _sans ceremonie_, to Hartledon; had told him (as a great favour) that she would look after his house and guests during her stay, as his mother would have done.

Easy, careless, good-natured Hartledon acquiesced, and took it all as a matter of course.

To him she was ever all sweetness and suavity.
None knew better on which side her bread was buttered than the countess-dowager.

She liked it buttered on both sides, and generally contrived to get it.
She had come down to Hartledon House with one fixed determination--that she did not quit it until the Lady Maude was its mistress.

For a long while Maude had been her sole hope.