raised a finger. "Eh! wasn't that the front door closing?"

All listened, but no sound could be heard. "Perhaps missus
has gone to walk in the garding," said cook, "she do that at
times."

"Did you show 'ern out?" asked Thomas, looking at Susan.

"Only Mr. Clancy," she answered, "the others had gone before.
I heard what Miss Loach was saying. Mr. Clancy had quarrelled
with Mrs. Herne and she had gone away with Mr. Hale. Then
Miss Loach gave it to him hot and sent him away. She's all
alone."

"I must have been mistaken about the door then," said he.

"Not at all," chimed in Mrs. Pill. "Missus is walking as she
do do in the garding, singing and adornin' self with flowers."

After this poetic flight of fancy on the part of the cook, the
supper ended. Thomas smoked a pipe and the housemaid cleared
away. Mrs. Pill occupied her time in putting her few
straggling locks in curl-papers.

While Susan was assisting Geraldine, the bell rang. All
started. "I thought missus had gone to bed," cried the cook,
getting up hurriedly. "She'll be in a fine rage if she finds
us up. Go to bed, Geraldine, and you, Thomas. Susan, answer
the bell. She don't like us not to be gettin' our beauty
sleep. Bless me it's eleving."