The countess was upset by her friend's sorrow and humiliating poverty, and was therefore out of sorts, a state of mind which with her always found expression in calling her maid " my dear" and speaking to her with exaggerated politeness.
" Everything is out of sorts, somehow, " she said to herself, going downstairs. " There's Beth crying, that's a sure sign that something is wrong in this family. If Amy is bothering, I'll shake her."
The tuneful apology was accepted with a forgiving smile and a frank " I'm sorry I was cross, but you haven't forgotten how to tease, and I'm rather out of sorts today. Late hours don't agree with me" .
But there is plenty to be concerned about if you're a Liverpool fan now that they've lost two in a row, I suppose, because far too many of their players are out of sorts.