ghing. "And as to his not knowing his business, madam," she
added, turning to her mother, "I pray you remember how exceeding good a
character my Lord Wilmot gave him."

"My dear Jane! A good character is all very well, but I do want some
capability in my servants as well as character. You do not choose your
shoemaker because he is sober and steady, but because he makes good
shoes."

"Under your correction, madam, he would not make good shoes long if he
were neither steady nor sober. Howbeit, I pray you, speak to my
brother: methinks you shall find him unready to discharge Jackson for no
better reason than that he cannot take the collar off an horse."

"But the words, Mrs Jane! Those awful words!"

"Very like they grew in Robin's brain," calmly answered Mrs Jane,
turning the lock of her trunk. "He is a bit jealous of Jackson, or I
mistake."

"Jealous of that black creature!" cried Millicent. "Why, he could not
hold a tallow candle to Robin!"

"I dare say he won't try," replied Mrs Jane, with a little amusement in
her voice.

Mrs Lane, who had left the room, returned looking somewhat discomfited.

"No, I cannot win your brother to see it," she said, in rather a vexed
tone. "He thinks so much, as you do, of the commendation my Lord Wilmot
gave the young man. He saith he is sure he is not a Roundhead (I marvel
how he knows); and as for his inaptitude, he said the man hath not been
before in service, and hath all to learn. If that be so, it cannot be
helped, and you will have to be patient with him, Jane."

"I will be as patient as I can, madam," said Mrs Jane gravely.

"Oh, my dear Mrs Jane! Oh, Madam! how you _can_!" exclaimed Millicent.
"We shall all be murdered by morning, I feel certain of it! Oh, dear,
dear!"

"Then you'd better make your will this evening," coolly observed Mrs
Jane. "Look here, Millicent, should you like these cherry ribbons?
They would not go ill with your grey gown."

Millicent passed in a moment from the depths of despair to the heights
of ecstasy.

"Oh, how good of you, Mrs Jane! They are perfectly charming! I shall
take the guarding off my grey gown to-morrow, and put them on."

"If you survive," said Mrs Jane solemnly.

Millicent looked slightly disconcerted.

"Well, Mrs Jane, I was going to tell you--but after what Madam said--if
the young man be respectable--I don't know, really--this morning, as he
was coming into the hall, I thought--I really thought he was