"When did a gentleman call? Do explain yourself, Trimmle!"

Only the fact that Mary was very hungry, and that she wanted to
consult her husband about the greenhouses, would have caused her
to lay so unusual an injunction on her attendant; and even now
she was detached enough to note in Trimmle's eye the dawning
defiance of the respectful subordinate who has been pressed too
hard.

"I couldn't exactly say the hour, Madam, because I didn't let the
gentleman in," she replied, with the air of magnanimously
ignoring the irregularity of her mistress's course.

"You didn't let him in?"

"No, Madam. When the bell rang I was dressing, and Agnes--"

"Go and ask Agnes, then," Mary interjected. Trimmle still wore
her look of patient magnanimity. "Agnes would not know, Madam,
for she had unfortunately burnt her hand in trying the wick of
the new lamp from town--" Trimmle, as Mary was aware, had always
been opposed to the new lamp--"and so Mrs. Dockett sent the
kitchen-maid instead."

Mary looked again at the clock. "It's after two! Go and ask the
kitchen-maid if Mr. Boyne left any word."

She went into luncheon without waiting, and Trimmle presently
brought her there the kitchen-maid's statement that the gentleman