eminently snug and clean. In each a good fire blazed cheerfully; my
portmanteau was already unstrapped, the table in the sitting-room
already laid; and I could not help looking twice at the silver and
the glass, so bright was their condition, so good their quality.
Mrs. Braithwaite watched me from the door.

"I doubt you'll be thinking them's our own," said she. "I wish they
were; t'squire sent 'em in this afternoon."

"For my use?"

"Ay; I doubt he thought what we had ourselves wasn't good enough.
An' it's him 'at sent t' armchair, t'bed-linen, t'bath, an' that
there lookin'-glass an' all."

She had followed me into the bedroom, where I looked with redoubled
interest at each object as she mentioned it, and it was in the glass
- a masqueline shaving-glass - that I caught my second glimpse of my
landlady's evil expression - levelled this time at myself.

I instantly turned round and told her that I thought it very kind of
Mr. Rattray, but that, for my part, I was not a luxurious man, and
that I felt rather sorry the matter had not been left entirely in her
hands. She retired seemingly mollified, and she took my sympathy with
her, though I was none the less pleased and cheered by my new friend's
zeal for my comfort; there were even flowers on my table, without a
doubt from Kirby Hall.

And in another matter the squire had not misled me: the woman was
an excellent plain cook. I expected ham and eggs. Sure enough,