make those who bask in the flickering blaze inclined to be sociable. To think
of how many long, lonely evenings you have sat here when you had persons in
your employ with whom you could have no affinity whatever! I don't see how
you stood it. Under such circumstances life must cloud up into a dreary
burden." It never occurred to Mrs. Mumpson that her figures of speech were
often mixed. She merely felt that the sentimental phase of conversation must
be very flowery. But during the first evening she had resolved on prudence.
"Mr. Holcroft shall have time," she thought, "for the hope to steal into his
heart that his housekeeper may become something more to him than
housekeeper--that there is a nearer and loftier relation."

Meanwhile she was consumed with curiosity to know something about the
"persons" previously employed and his experiences with them. With a
momentary, and, as she felt, a proper pause before descending to ordinary
topics, she resumed, "My dear Mr. Holcroft, no doubt it will be a relief to
your overfraught mind to pour into a symperthetic ear the story of your
troubles with those--er--those peculiar females that--er--that--"

"Mrs. Mumpson, it would be a much greater relief to my mind to forget all
about 'em," he replied briefly.

"INDEED!" exclaimed the widow. "Was they as bad as that? Who'd 'a' thought
it! Well, well, well; what people there is in the world! And you couldn't
abide 'em, then?"

"No, I couldn't."

"Well now; what hussies they must have been! And to think you were here all
alone, with no better company! It makes my heart bleed. They DO say that
Bridget Malony is equal to anything, and I've no doubt but that she took