speak a word, ma'am?"

Mrs. Gallilee's eyes remained fixed on the ceiling. "Is that my maid?"
she asked.

Treated--to all appearance--with marked contempt, Marceline no longer
cared to assume the forms of respect either in language or manner. "I
wish to give you notice to leave," she said abruptly; "I find I can't
get on with my fellow-servants."

Mrs. Gallilee slowly raised her head, and looked at her maid--and said
nothing.

"And while I'm about it," the angry woman proceeded, "I may as well own
the truth. You suspect one of us of helping my master to take away the
young ladies' things--I mean some few of their things. Well! you needn't
blame innocent people. I'm the person."

Mrs. Gallilee laid her head back again on the chair--and burst out
laughing.

For one moment, Marceline looked at her mistress in blank surprise.
Then, the terrible truth burst on her. She ran into the hall, and called
for Joseph.

He hurried up the stairs. The instant he presented himself at the open
door, Mrs. Gallilee rose to her feet. "My medical attendant," she said,
with an assumption of dignity; "I must explain myself." She held up one
hand, outstretched; and counted her fingers with the other. "First my
husband. Then my son. Now my maid. One, two, three. Mr. Null, do you
know the proverb? 'It's the last hair that breaks the camel's back.'"
She suddenly dropped on her knees. "Will somebody pray for me?" she
cried piteously. "I don't know how to pray for myself. Where is God?"

Bareheaded as he was, Joseph ran out. The nearest doctor lived on the
opposite side of the Square. He happened to be at home. When he reached
the house, the women servants were holding their mistress down by main
force.

CHAPTER LVI.

On the next day, Mr. Mool--returning from a legal consultation to an
appointment at his office--found a gentleman, whom he knew by sight,
walking up and down before his door; apparently bent on intercepting
him. "Mr. Null, I believe?" he said, with his customary politeness.

Mr. Null answered to his name, and asked for a moment of Mr. Mool's
time. Mr. Mool looked grave, and said he was late for an appointment
already. Mr. Null admitted that the clerks in the office had told him
so, and said at last, what he ought to have said at first: "I am
Mrs. Gallilee's medical attendant--there is serious necessity for
communicating with her husband."

Mr. Mool instantly led the way into the office.

The chief clerk approac