Hall and a Departed

Introduction

Off in a quaint part of the Shire, a rooster was making itself known for morning. All walks of life squinted up with tired, sleepy eyes as the warm blanket of the sun enveloped the land. All the little critters rose; babies yawning and stretching, then suckling on their mothers milk. Along this country, there was peace; the sound of a running brook in the background. Nothing was around for miles except for a few farms owned by wealthy landlords. Squarely between the plain surrounded by forest was a Victorian mansion. It had been vacant and  mostly left its care to that of the forest animals, who would play in the funny little nooks and crannies. But recently, maids and butlers had come back to the house, and had begun preparing for the arrival of their mistress.

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The Lady's Maid, Angelica, could be seen bustling down the hallways, yelling at random people in her way.

"AAA!! Shoo! Off with you", she yelled at a stable boy, who had placed a wet, slimy toad on the shoulder of poor Angelica, and quickly ran back the way he came, with Angelica not far behind, waving a broom in her hands.

Angelica could be described as "a few sandwiches short of a picnic", although no one would care to mention it in front of her. In spite of this, she was a hardworking, busty sort of woman, approaching her late forties. She had a red, curly hair, which was often in a state of disorder, due to her bustling about, trying to solve the all the problems that would endlessly pop up.

The cook approached her with one such problem. As the head, Angelica was often asked for her opinion on many matters of the house. Usually, she was used to this, however seeing as her mistress was coming over, things had been hectic for a while.

"Yes, yes, on with it already", she said, taking a bite of the biscuits.

".....Perfect." (Well that's ruined).

Answering questions left and right, Angelica huffed our a sigh and anxiously peered over at her watch.

"No, yes very interesting love.....I'll bear that in mind, yes, thank you."

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Meanwhile an elegant, horse-drawn carriage was winding its way 'round the bends of the countryside, jostling the passengers inside.

Looking out, the heir to the Hall family mansion, Joan tenderly held her newborn baby. The child reached its puffy, tiny fingers out towards the woodland creatures, which were quizzically wondering at the strange object running along the creek. Joan knew that returning back would be difficult and would take some adjusting, but nevertheless she would have to bear it if she wanted her daughter, Anne, to have a chance of a happy childhood. Locking in her indecision, she once more looked down at the moving bundle in her arms. The girl, noticing her mother's gaze, softly smiled up at her.

The coachman reached to help Joan out from the carriage, where she and her baby were greeted by a crowd of maids, butlers, footmen, cooks, etc. and one portly, sweaty woman, who had come running at mention of her mistress, shoving others much like a rugby player. Joan smiled as she walked over to her long-time companion.

"Welcome back m'lady"

"It's good to be back Angelica," Joan said, chuckling. "Might you be a dear and take dear Anne to her room?"

"Of course my lady, I'll go right away- GET OUT OF THE WAY CAN'T YOU SEE IT'S THE MISTRESS' CHILD! I'll only be a second m'la- I SAID MOVE IT RONALD, beastly little bugger."

After holding in a fit of laughter, Joan ascended the stairs to her old abode, still the same as the day she left it.