Grinning from ear to ear, she knew that so far as the lower servants were concerned, if she were to be seen behaving in such a hoydenish manner, it would destroy forever her carefully guarded image of dignity and propriety. But she didn’t care—she was too eager to relate the wonderful news. Bursting into the servants’ hall, all eyes were upon her—and there were many more eyes than normal, for virtually every house servant was gathered there, most of them making not even the merest pretense of properly earning their wages—but she was so out of breath, she could not talk for several minutes. Finally she was able to gasp out, “It’s ... a ... girl,” and a cheer went up. Mr. Kelso quickly shushed the servants’ exuberance and then with stately manner decreed, “I do believe this calls for a toast. Jenkins, would you be so kind as to fetch two bottles of wine? No, better make that four bottles.” “Fetch a ‘alf dozen bot’les, Jenks,” cried out Billy, and received not the slightest scolding from his superiors.
