enora Gredos was very gay. Many people came to her house and
played cards, even on Sunday," added Susan under her breath. But low
as she spoke, Miss Loach heard.

"I have whist parties here frequently," she said drily; "nearly every
evening four friends of mine call to play. Have you any objection to
enter my service on that account?"

"Oh, no, ma'am. I don't mind a game of cards. I play 'Patience'
myself when alone. I mean gambling--there was a lot of money lost and
won at Senora Gredos' house!"

"Yet she is an invalid I think you said?"

"Yes, ma'am. She was a dancer, I believe, and fell in some way, so as
to break her leg or hurt her back. She has been lying on a couch for
two years unable to move. Yet she has herself wheeled into the
drawing-room and watches the gentlemen play cards. She plays herself
sometimes!"

Miss Loach again directed one of her piercing looks at the pale face of
the girl. "You are too inquisitive and too talkative," she said
suddenly, "therefore you won't suit me. Good-day."

Susan was quite taken aback. "Oh, ma'am, I hope I've said nothing
wrong. I only answered your questions."

"You evidently take note of everything you see, and talk about it."

"No, ma'am," said the girl earnestly. "I really hold my tongue."

"When it suits you," retorted Miss Loach. "Hold it now and let me
think!"

While Miss Loach, staring frowningly into the fire, debated inwardly as
to the advisability of engaging the girl, Susan looked timidly round
the room. Curiously enough, it was placed in the basement of the
cottage, and was therefore below the level of the garden. Two fairly
large windows looked on to the area, which had been roofed with glass
and turned into a conservatory. Here appeared scarlet geraniums and
other bright-hued flowers, interspersed with ferns and delicate
grasses. Owing to the position of the room and the presence of the
glass roof, only a subdued light filtered into the place, but, as the
day was brilliant with sunshine, the apartment was fairly well
illuminated. Still, on a cloudy day, Susan could imagine how dull it
would be. In winter time the room must be perfectly dark.

It was luxuriously furnished, in red and gold. The carpet and curtains
were of bright scarlet, threaded with gold. The furniture, strangely
enough, was of white polished wood upholstered in crimson satin fringed
with gold. There were many pictures in large gilded frames and many
mirro