I don't think that he was pleasantly impressed himself by the first sight
of our visitor, for he stopped short some steps of the window, and demanded
rather sternly--

'What ye doin' there, woman?'

To this summons, her answer, which occupied a little time, was inaudible to
me. But Branston replied--

'I wasn't aware, ma'am; I heerd nothin'; if you'll go round _that_ way,
you'll see the hall-door steps, and I'll speak to the master, and do as he
shall order.'

The figure said something and pointed.

'Yes, that's it, and ye can't miss the door.'

And Mr. Branston returned slowly down the long room, and halted with
out-turned pumps and a grave inclination before me, and the faintest amount
of interrogation in the announcement--

'Please,'m, she says she's the governess.'

'The governess! _What_ governess?'

Branston was too well-bred to smile, and he said thoughtfully--

'P'raps,'m, I'd best ask the master?'

To which I assented, and away strode the flat pumps of the butler to the