r appear so. A bold, scheming,
unscrupulous, vulgar-minded woman, who had never considered other
people's feelings in her life, whether equals or inferiors. In her day
she must have been rather tall--nearly as tall as that elegant Maude who
followed her; but her astounding width caused her now to appear short.
She went looking into the different rooms as shown to her by Mirrable,
and chose the best for herself and her daughter.

"Three en suite. Yes, that will be the thing, Mirrable. Lady Maude will
take the inner one, I will occupy this, and my maid the outer. Very good.
Now you may order the luggage up."

"But my lady," objected Mirrable, "these are the best rooms in the house;
and each has a separate entrance, as you perceive. With so many guests to
provide for, your maid cannot have one of these rooms."

"What?" cried the countess-dowager. "My maid not have one of these rooms?
You insolent woman! Do you know that I am come here with my nephew, Lord
Hartledon, to be mistress of this house, and of every one in it? You'd
better mind _your_ behaviour, for I can tell you that I shall look pretty
sharply after it."

"Then," said Mirrable, who never allowed herself to be put out by any
earthly thing, and rarely argued against the stream, "as your ladyship
has come here as sole mistress, perhaps you will yourself apportion the
rooms to the guests."

"Let them apportion them for themselves," cried the countess-dowager.
"These three are mine; others manage as they can. It's Hartledon's fault.
I told him not to invite a heap of people. You and I shall get on
together very well, I've no doubt, Mirrable," she continued in a false,
fawning voice; for she was remarkably alive at all times to her own
interests. "Am I to understand that you are the housekeeper?"

"I am acting as housekeeper at present," was Mirrable's answer. "When my
lord went to town, after my lady's death, the housekeeper went also, and
has remained there. I have taken her place. Lord Elster--Lord Hartledon,
I mean--has not lived yet at Hartledon, and we have had no
establishment."

"Then who are you?"

"I was maid to Lady Hartledon for many years. Her ladyship treated me
more as a friend at the last; and the young gentlemen always did so."

"_Very_ good," cried the untrue voice. "And, now, Mirrable, you can go
down and send up some tea for myself and Lady Maude. What time do we
dine?"

"Mr. Elster ordered it for eight o'clock."

"And what business