opened the door gave her to understand that she had taken a
liberty.

"Of course this morning and before engaging, you were a lady,"
said the cook, hustling the girl into the hall, "but now being
the housemaid, Miss Loach won't be pleased at your touching
the front bell."

"I did not see any other entrance," protested Susan.

"Ah," said the cook, leading the way down a few steps into the
thatched cottage, which, it appeared was the servants' quarters,
"you looked down the area as is natural-like. But there ain't
none, it being a conservitery!"

"Why does Miss Loach live in the basement?" asked Susan, on
being shown into a comfortable room which answered the purpose
of a servants' hall.

The cook resented this question. "Ah!" said she with a snort,
"and why does a miller wear a white 'at, Miss Grant, that
being your name I take it. Don't you ask no questions but if
you must know, Miss Loach have weak eyes and don't like glare.
She lives like a rabbit in a burrow, and though the rooms on
the ground floor are sich as the King might in'abit, she don't
come up often save to eat. She lives in the basement room
where you saw her, Miss Grant, and she sleeps in the room orf.
When she eats, the dining-room above is at her service. An' I
don't see why she shouldn't," snorted the cook.