CHAPTER XVI 195
since it was a house ; though there are hundreds of pounds ' worth of plate in the plate-closet , as is well known . And you see , for such a large house , there are very few servants , because master has never lived here much ; and when he does come , being a bachelor , he needs little waiting on : but I always think it best to err on the safe side ; a door is soon fastened , and it is as well to have a drawn bolt between one and any mischief that may be about . A deal of people , Miss , are for trusting all to Providence ; but I say Providence will not dispense with the means , though He often blesses them when they are used discreetly ." And here she closed her harangue : a long one for her , and uttered with the demureness of a Quakeress .
I still stood absolutely dumfoundered at what appeared to me her miraculous self-possession and most inscrutable hypocrisy , when the cook entered .
" Mrs . Poole ," said she , addressing Grace , " the servants ' dinner will soon be ready : will you come down ?"
" No ; just put my pint of porter and bit of pudding on a tray , and I ' ll carry it upstairs ."
" You ' ll have some meat ?" " Just a morsel , and a taste of cheese , that ' s all ." " And the sago ?"
" Never mind it at present : I shall be coming down before teatime : I ' ll make it myself ."
The cook here turned to me , saying that Mrs . Fairfax was waiting for me : so I departed .
I hardly heard Mrs . Fairfax ' s account of the curtain conflagration during dinner , so much was I occupied in puzzling my brains over the enigmatical character of Grace Poole , and still more in pondering the problem of her