Will you please take them away?'
She looked nervous and apologetic.
'I'm very sorry, Madam,' she said.
She went to the mantelpiece and took the vases.
'Don't let it happen again,' I said.
'No, Madam,' she said.
She went out of the room, taking the flowers with her.
I had not thought it would be so easy to be severe.
I wondered why it had seemed hard for me before.
The menu for the day lay on the writing-desk.
Cold salmon and mayonnaise, cutlets in aspic, galantine of chicken souffle.
I recognised them all from the buffet-supper of the night of the ball.
We were evidently still living on the remains.
This must be the cold lunch that was put out in the dining-room yesterday and I had not eaten.
The staff were taking things easily, it seemed.
I put a pencil through the list and rang for Robert.
'Tell Mrs Danvers to order something hot,' I said.
'If there's still a lot of cold stuff to finish we don't want it in the dining-room '
'Very good, Madam,' he said.
I followed him out of the room and went to the little flower-room for my scissors.
Then I went into the rose-garden and cut some young buds.
The chill had worn away from the air.
It was going to be as hot and airless as yesterday had been.
I wondered if they were still down in the bay or whether they had gone back to the creek in Kerrith harbour.
Presently I should hear.
Presently Maxim would come back and tell me.
Whatever happened I must be calm and quiet.
Whatever happened I must not be afraid.
I cut my roses and took them back into the morning-room. The carpet had been dusted, and the fallen petals removed.
I began to arrange the flowers in the vases that Robert had filled with water.
When I had nearly finished there was a knock on the door.
'Come in,' I said.
It was Mrs Danvers.
She had the menu list in her hand.
She looked pale and tired.
There were great rings round her eyes.
'Good morning, Mrs Danvers,' I said.
'I don't understand', she began, 'why you sent the menu out and the message by Robert.
Why did you do it?'
I looked across at her, a rose in my hand.
"Those cutlets and that salmon were sent in yesterday,' I said.
'I saw them on the side-board.
I should prefer something hot today.
If they won't eat the cold in the kitchen you had better throw the stuff away.
So much waste goes on in this house anyway that a little more won't make any difference."
She stared at me.
She did not say anything.
I put the rose in the vase with the others.
'Don't tell me you can't think of anything to give us, Mrs Danvers,' I said.
'You must have menus for all occasions in your room.'