tulantly, "were you asleep?"

"No, ma'am, I was shutting my eyes to try how it would be amongst the
plants."

"Ah," she said, with the tears now brimming up into her eyes; "isn't it
wonderful? Poor fellow, I cannot tell you how happy it has made me
feel. Why, James Ellis, I had been thinking that he had to face a
desolate, blank existence, and I was nearly heart-broken about him, and
all the time, as you saw, he was going about happy and light-hearted,
actually smiling over his work."

"Yes, ma'am," said the bailiff rather gruffly, "it seems very wonderful.
I don't think he can be quite blind."

"What!"

"His eyes look as bright as any one else's, ma'am."

"You think then that he is an impostor?"

"Oh, no, ma'am, I wouldn't say that."

"No, James Ellis, you had better not," said his mistress tartly. "Well,
you saw what he can do."

"Yes, ma'am, and I was very much surprised. I did not know he was
here;" and Ellis spoke as if he felt rather aggrieved.

"I suppose not," said Mrs Mostyn dryly. "I saw him in old Tummus's
garden yesterday, and I walked across and fetched him here this morning
to see what he could do in the conservatory, and really, blind as he is,
he seems more clever and careful than Daniel Barnett."

James Ellis coughed a little, in a dry, nervous way.

"And now I repeat my question, what do you say to that?"

"Well, ma'am, I--er--that is--"

"You want me to engage one of Admiral Morgan's men to take poor John
Grange's place?"

"Yes, ma'am," said the bailiff, recovering himself; "and I don't think,
you can do better."

"But I don't want another man."

The bailiff shrugged his shoulders, and looked deprecatingly at his
mistress.

"I know you like the garden and houses to look well, ma'am, and we're
two hands short."

"No, we are not, James Ellis. Old Dunton has done nothing in the garden
but look on for years. I only wished for my poor husband's old servant
to end his days in peace; and do you think I am going to supersede that
poor fellow whom we have just been watching?"

"But, pardon me, ma'am, there are many things he could never do."

"Then Barnett must do them, and I shall make a change for poor John
Grange's sake: I shall give up showy flowers and grow all kinds that
shed perfume. That will do. It is impossible for Grange to be
head-gardener, but he will retain his old position, and you may tell
Barnett that Grange is to do exactly what he feels is suitable to him