Reasons for Mrs. Slater's decision to not open the door for Mrs. and Mr. Jordan initially:

There could be several reasons why Mrs. Slater advised Victoria not to open the door for Mrs. and Mr. Jordan immediately. These reasons may include:

1. Privacy:
Mrs. Slater might have wanted to ensure the privacy of the occupants of the house. By not immediately opening the door, she could have ensured that Victoria had enough time to prepare herself or the house before receiving guests.

2. Unannounced Arrival:
It is possible that Mrs. and Mr. Jordan arrived without prior notice or appointment. In such a situation, Mrs. Slater might have wanted to delay their entry to make sure that the house was presentable and suitable for receiving guests. This would allow her to tidy up or make necessary arrangements before welcoming them.

3. Unexpected Visitors:
Mrs. Slater could have been surprised by the arrival of Mrs. and Mr. Jordan. Not being prepared to receive guests, she might have needed some time to gather herself and plan how to handle the situation. By delaying the opening of the door, she could have bought herself some time to compose herself and prepare for their arrival.

4. Busy with Other Tasks:
Mrs. Slater might have been occupied with some urgent tasks or responsibilities at that moment. It is possible that she needed time to complete those tasks before attending to the visitors. By asking Victoria not to open the door immediately, she could have ensured that she had enough time to finish her ongoing duties before focusing on the guests.

5. Tactful Approach:
Mrs. Slater might have wanted to handle the situation tactfully. By delaying the opening of the door, she could have created an impression that the occupants of the house were engaged or unavailable at that moment. This approach can be useful in situations where one wants to control the timing and manner of receiving guests.

Overall, Mrs. Slater's decision to advise Victoria not to open the door immediately could have been influenced by a combination of factors such as privacy concerns, unannounced arrival, unexpected visitors, ongoing tasks, and a tactful approach to handling the situation.