I was sent for to see Sir Percival in the library. The Count, who was with him when I went in immediately rose and left us alone together. Sir Percival civilly asked me to take a seat, and then, to my great astonishment, addressed me in these terms --
‘I want to speak to you, Mrs Michelson, about a matter which I decided on some time ago, and which I should have mentioned before, but for the sickness and trouble in the house- In plain words, I have reasons for wishing to break up my establishment immediately at this place -- leaving you in charge, of course, as usual. As soon as Lady Glyde and Miss Halcombe can travel they must both have change of air. My friends, Count Fosco and the Countess, will leave us before that time to live in the neighbourhood of London, and I have reasons for not opening the house to any more company, with a view to economising as carefully as I can. I don't blame you, but my expenses here are a great deal too heavy. In short, I shall sell the horses, and get rid of all the servants at once. I never do things by halves, as you know, and I mean to have the house clear of a pack of useless people by this time tomorrow.'
I listened to him, perfectly aghast with astonishment.
‘Do you mean, Sir Percival, that I am to dismiss the indoor servants under my charge without the usual month's warning?' l asked.
‘Certainly I do. We may all be out of the house before another month, and I am not going to leave the servants here in idleness, with no master to wait on.'
‘Who is to do the cooking, Sir Percival, while you are still staying here?'
‘Margaret Porcher can roast and boil -- keep her. What do I want with a cook if I don't mean to give any dinner-parties?'
‘The servant you have mentioned is the most unintelligent servant in the house, Sir Percival --'
‘Keep her, I tell you, and have a woman in from the village to do the cleaning and go away again. My weekly expenses must and shall be lowered immediately. I don't send for you to make objections, Mrs Michelson --
I send for you to carry out my plans of economy. Dismiss the whole lazy pack of indoor servants tomorrow, except Porcher. She is as strong as a horse -- and we'll make her work like a horse.'
‘You will excuse me for reminding you, Sir Percival, that if the servants go tomorrow they must have a month's wages in lieu of a month's warning.'
‘Let them! A month's wages saves a month's waste and gluttony in the servants' hall.'
This last remark conveyed an aspersion of the most offensive kind on my management. I had too much self-respect to defend myself under so gross an imputation. Christian consideration for the helpless position of Miss Halcombe and Lady Glyde, and for the serious inconvenience which my sudden absence might inflict on them, alone prevented me from resigning my situation on the spot. I rose immediately. It would have lowered me in my own estimation to have permitted the interview to continue a moment longer.
‘After that last remark, Sir Percival, I have nothing more to say. Your directions shall be attended to.' Pronouncing those words, I bowed my head with the most distant respect, and went out of the room.
The next day the servants left in a body. Sir Percival himself dismissed the grooms and stablemen, sending them, with all the horses but one, to London. Of the whole domestic establishment, indoors and out, there now remained only myself, Margaret Porcher, and the gardener -- this last living in his own cottage, and being wanted to take care of the one horse that remained in the stables.
With the house left in this strange and lonely condition -- with the mistress of it ill in her room -- with Miss Halcombe still as helpless as a child -- and with the doctor's attendance withdrawn from us in enmity -- it was surely not unnatural that my spirits should sink, and my customary composure be very hard to maintain. My mind was ill at ease. I wished the poor ladies both well again, and I wished myself away from Blackwater Park.
