o see you again, Mary."

"You could not expect to see me whilst the house was in its recent
state," answered Mirrable. "We have been in a bustle, as you may
suppose."

"You've not had many staying there."

"Only Mr. Carr; and he left to-day. We've got the old countess-dowager
still."

"And likely to have her, if all's true that's said," put in Mrs. Jones.

Mirrable tacitly admitted the probability. Her private opinion was that
nothing short of a miracle could ever remove the Dowager Kirton from the
house again. Had any one told Mirrable, as she stood there, that her
ladyship would be leaving of her own accord that night, she had simply
said it was impossible.

"Mary," cried the weak voice of poor timid Mrs. Gum, "how was it none of
the brothers came to the funeral? Jabez was wondering. She had a lot,
I've heard."

"It was not convenient to them, I suppose," replied Mirrable. "The one
in the Isle of Wight had gone cruising in somebody's yacht, or he'd have
come with the dowager; and Lord Kirton telegraphed from Ireland that he
was prevented coming. I know nothing about the rest."

"It was an awful death!" shivered Mrs. Gum. "And without cause too; for
the child was not hurt after all. Isn't my lord dreadfully cut up, Mary?"

"I think so; he's very quiet and subdued. But he has seemed full of
sorrow for a long while, as if he had some dreadful care upon him. I
don't think he and his wife were very happy together," added Mirrable.
"My lord's likely to make Hartledon his chief residence now, I fancy,
for--My gracious! what's that?"

A crash as if a whole battery of crockery had come down inside the
house. A moment of staring consternation ensued, and nervous Mrs. Gum
looked ready to faint. The two women disappeared indoors, and Mirrable
turned homewards at a brisk pace. But she was not to go on without an
interruption. Pike's head suddenly appeared above the hurdles, and he
began inquiring after her health. "Toothache gone?" asked he.

"Yes," she said, answering straightforwardly in her surprise. "How did
you know I had toothache?" It was not the first time by several he had
thus accosted her; and to give her her due, she was always civil to him.
Perhaps she feared to be otherwise.

"I heard of it. And so my Lord Hartledon's like a man with some dreadful
care upon him!" he went on. "What is the care?"

"You have been eavesdropping!" she angrily exclaimed.

"Not a bit of it. I was seated under the hedge with