"Gracious 'eavens, Susan," cried the cook, when Susan
returned, after admitting the visitors, "whatever's come to
you?"

"I've had a turn," said Susan faintly, sitting by the fire and
rubbing her white cheeks.

At once Mrs. Pill was alive with curiosity. She questioned
the new parlor-maid closely, but was unable to extract
information. Susan simply said that she had a weak heart, and
set down her wan appearance to the heat. "An' on that
accounts you sits by the fire," said Mrs. Pill scathingly.
"You're one of the secret ones you are. Well, it ain't no
business of mine, thank 'eaven, me being above board in
everythink. I 'spose the usual lot arrived, Susan?"

"Two gentlemen and a lady," replied Susan, glad to see that
the cooks thoughts were turning in another direction.

"Gentlemen!" snorted Mrs. Pill, "that Clancy one ain't. Why
the missus should hobnob with sich as he, I don't know nohow."

"Ah, but the other's a real masher," chimed in Geraldine,
looking up from her millinery; "such black eyes, that go
through you like a gimlet, and such a lovely moustache. He
dresses elegant too."

"Being Miss Loach's lawyer, he have a right to dress well,"
said Mrs. Pill, rubbing her nose with the stocking, "and Mr.
Clancy, I thinks, is someone Mr. Jarvey Hale's helpin', he