all his hands!"

"I shall write and tell him to do so at once," said Charmion
magnificently, and I held my peace and let her do it, knowing that it
would be no use to object, and hoping that at least her letter might
succeed in extracting some more definite information.

It did! This was it:--

"Madam,--I beg to inform you that Mr Maplestone having rented the house
known as `Uplands,' on behalf of General Underwood, and placed urgent
orders with us for its re-decoration, we are regretfully compelled to
delay operations at Pastimes for some weeks. We are making all possible
speed with the present contract, and beg to assure you that your work
shall then be finished with all despatch.

"We have the honour to remain, etcetera."

Charmion and I looked at one another, and looked, and looked, and
looked. We were both thinking hard--thinking backward, thinking ahead.
Exactly what we thought neither of us put into words; we just sat
silently and stared, until presently Charmion rose, marched over to her
writing-table, and scribbled a few words on a telegram form. Then she
held it out for me to read:--

"Order for decorations at Pastimes cancelled herewith."

"Do you approve?"

"Er--oh, yes, of course--I suppose so. But how shall we--"

"That's easily arranged. Any town firm will be glad of the order. It
will be more expensive, but will probably be better done. In any case
we have no choice."

"It's such a tiny village. Where could the men sleep?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. That is their business, not mine. We
shan't have any difficulty about that," Charmion declared, and she was
right, for the West End firm who received our instructions waved aside
the question with smiling assurance. They were accustomed to sending
workmen all over the country. To the loneliest places. All could be
easily arranged. We were left with the impression that if it had been
our pleasure to pitch our tent in the Sahara, the frock-coated manager
would have executed our wishes with equal ease. So far, so good; but as
we left the shop Charmion turned to me, and said darkly:--

"I think, under the circumstances, it might be wise to change our minds
about employing country maids, and to engage London ones instead."

"You are afraid--"

"I am afraid of nothing, but I think it probable that the local girls
who wrote to us about situations may now be `urgently' bespoken for
service at Uplands."

"Well, he will need ser