iminary questions, he said, "Take my
card to Mrs. Gallilee."

"My mistress is out, sir."

The music-master looked impatiently at the hall-clock. The hall-clock
answered him by striking the half hour after five.

"Do you expect Mrs. Gallilee back soon?"

"We don't know, sir. The footman had his orders to be in waiting with
the carriage, at five."

After a moment of irritable reflection, Mr. Le Frank took a letter from
his pocket. "Say that I have an appointment, and am not able to wait.
Give Mrs. Gallilee that letter the moment she comes in." With those
directions he left the house.

The page looked at the letter. It was sealed; and, over the address, two
underlined words were written:--"Private. Immediate." Mindful of visits
from tradespeople, anxious to see his mistress, and provided beforehand
with letters to be delivered immediately, the boy took a pecuniary view
of Mr. Le Frank's errand at the house. "Another of them," he thought,
"wanting his money."

As he placed the letter on the hall-table, the library door opened, and
Benjulia appeared--weary already of waiting, without occupation, for
Mrs. Gallilee's return.

"Is smoking allowed in the library?" he asked.

The page looked up at the giant towering over him, with the envious
admiration of a short boy. He replied with a discretion beyond his
years: "Would you please step into the smoking-room, sir?"

"Anybody there?"

"My master, sir."

Benjulia at once declined the invitation to the smoking-room. "Anybody
else at home?" he inquired.

Miss Carmina was upstairs--the page answered. "And I think," he added,
"Mr. Null is with her."

"Who's Mr. Null?"

"The doctor, sir."

Benjulia declined to disturb the doctor. He tried a third, and last
question.

"Where's Zo?"

"Here!" cried a shrill voice from the upper regions. "Who are You?"

To the page's astonishment, the giant gentleman with the resonant bass
voice answered this quite gravely. "I'm Benjulia," he said.

"Come up!" cried Zo.

Benjulia ascended the stairs.

"Stop!" shouted the voice from above.

Benjulia stopped.

"Have you got your big stick?"

"Yes."

"Bring it up with you." Benjulia retraced his steps into the hall.
The page respectfully handed him his stick. Zo became impatient. "Look
sharp!" she called out.

Benjulia obediently quickened his pace. Zo left the schoolroom (in spite
of the faintly-heard protest of the maid in charge) to receive him
on the stairs. They me