For social occasions she also had an ingratiating manner that made many people find her quite a pleasant companion.
Only those who lived with her knew how hard, how parsimonious and how cruel she could be.
She had a temper, she made no attempt to control unless it suited her and Lalitha saw now with a little tremor of fear that she was in a rage.
“Come here, Lalitha!” she ordered as her stepdaughter entered the room.
Timidly she did as she was told and Lady Studley held out towards her a lace dress on which the bottom flounce had been torn.
“I told you,” she said, “the day before yesterday to mend this.”
“I know,” Lalitha answered, “but honestly, I have not had time and I cannot do it at night. My eyes hurt and it’s impossible to see the delicate lace except in the daylight.”
“You a
