ons, that they speculate on a somewhat
lengthy visit. What rooms are we to assign them, sir?"

"The four that look north over the billiard-room and the hall; they are
the coldest and most cheerless in the house. Your master will occupy the
apartments now mine; see, here is the plan of the house; Lord and Lady
Kilgoff have 4, 5, and 6. These that are not marked you may distribute
how you will. My quarters are those two, beyond the library."

Linton was here interrupted by the advance of a tall, stiff-looking
old fellow, who, carrying his hand to his hat in military guise, stood
straight before him, saying, in a very broad accent, "The gen'ral's mon,
sir, an't please ye."

"Well, friend, and what then?" replied Linton, half testily.

"I 've my leddy's orders, sir, to tak' up a good position, and a warm
ane, in the hoos yonder, and if it's no askin' too much, I 'd like to
speer the premises first."

"Mr. Phillis, look after this, if you please," said Linton, turning
away; "and remember my directions."

"Come with me, friend," said Phillis; "your mistress, I suppose, does
not like cold apartments?"

"Be ma saul, if she finds them so, she 'll mak' the rest of the hoos
over warm for the others," said he, with a sardonic grin, that left
small doubt of his sincere conviction.

"And your master?" said Phillis, in that interrogatory tone which
invites a confidence.

"The gen'ral 's too auld a soldier no to respec deescepline," said he,
dryly.

"Oh, that's it, Sanders."

"Ma name's Bob Flint, and no Saunders,--gunner and driver i' the Royal
Artillery," said the other, drawing himself up proudly; "an' if we are
to be mair acquaint, it's just as well ye 'd mind that same."

As Bob Flint possessed that indescribable something which would seem, by
an instinct, to save its owner from impertinences, Mr. Phillis did not
venture upon any renewed familiarity, but led the way into the house in
silence.

"That's a bra' cookin' place ye've got yonder," said Bob, as he stopped
for a second at the door of the great kitchen, where already the cooks
were busied in the various preparations; "but I'm no so certain my leddy
wad like to see a bra' giggot scooped out in tha' fashion just to mak'
room for a wheen black potatoes inside o' it;"--the operation alluded
to so sarcastically being the stuffing of a shoulder of mutton with
truffles, in Provencal mode.

"I suppose her Ladyship will be satisfied with criticising what comes
to