"Do you know about your master and the children?" he said.

"Yes, sir."

"I wish you had told me of it, when you let me in."

"Have I done any harm, sir?"

"I don't know yet. If you want me, I shall be at home to dinner at
seven."

The next visitor was one of the partners in the legal firm, to which
Mrs. Gallilee had applied for advice. After what Mr. Null had said,
Joseph hesitated to conduct this gentleman into the presence of his
mistress. He left the lawyer in the waiting-room, and took his card.

Mrs. Gallilee's attitude had not changed. She sat looking down at the
copied telegram and the letter from her husband, lying together on her
lap. Joseph was obliged to speak twice, before he could rouse her.

"To-morrow," was all she said.

"What time shall I say, ma'am?"

She put her hand to her head--and broke into anger against Joseph.
"Settle it yourself, you wretch!" Her head drooped again over the
papers. Joseph returned to the lawyer. "My mistress is not very well,
sir. She will be obliged if you will call to-morrow, at your own time."

About an hour later, she rang her bell--rang it unintermittingly, until
Joseph appeared. "I'm famished," she said. "Something to eat! I never
was so hungry in my life. At once--I can't wait."

The cook sent up a cold fowl, and a ham. Her eyes devoured the food,
while the footman was carving it for her. Her bad temper seemed to have
completely disappeared. She said, "What a delicious dinner! Just the
very things I like." She lifted the first morsel to her mouth--and laid
the fork down again with a weary sigh. "No: I can't eat; what has come
to me?" With those words, she pushed her chair away from the table,
and looked slowly all round her. "I want the telegram and the letter."
Joseph found them. "Can you help me?" she said. "I am trying to find out
who wrote my son. Say yes, or no, at once; I hate waiting."

Joseph left her in her old posture, with her head down and the papers on
her lap.

The appearance of the uneaten dinner in the kitchen produced a
discussion, followed by a quarrel.

Joseph was of the opinion that the mistress had got more upon her mind
than her mind could well bear. It was useless to send for Mr. Null; he
had already mentioned that he would not be home until seven o'clock..
There was no superior person in the house to consult. It was not for
the servants to take responsibility on themselves. "Fetch the nearest
doctor, and let _him_ be answerab