in the center of
the room, and at this with their chairs drawn up, Geraldine and the
cook worked. The former was trimming a picture-hat of the cheapest and
most flamboyant style, and the latter darned a coarse white stocking
intended for her own use. By the fire sat Thomas, fair-haired and
stupid in looks, who read tit-bits from the Daily Mail for the
delectation of Mrs. Pill and Geraldine.

"Gracious 'eavens, Susan," cried the cook, when Susan returned, after
admitting the visitors, "whatever's come to you?"

"I've had a turn," said Susan faintly, sitting by the fire and rubbing
her white cheeks.

At once Mrs. Pill was alive with curiosity. She questioned the new
parlor-maid closely, but was unable to extract information. Susan
simply said that she had a weak heart, and set down her wan appearance
to the heat. "An' on that accounts you sits by the fire," said Mrs.
Pill scathingly. "You're one of the secret ones you are. Well, it
ain't no business of mine, thank 'eaven, me being above board in
everythink. I 'spose the usual lot arrived, Susan?"

"Two gentlemen and a lady," replied Susan, glad to see that the cooks
thoughts were turning in another direction.

"Gentlemen!" snorted Mrs. Pill, "that Clancy one ain't. Why the missus
should hobnob with sich as he, I don't know nohow."

"Ah, but the other's a real masher," chimed in Geraldine, looking up
from her millinery; "such black eyes, that go through you like a
gimlet, and such a lovely moustache. He dresses elegant too."

"Being Miss Loach's lawyer, he have a right to dress well," said Mrs.
Pill, rubbing her nose with the stocking, "and Mr. Clancy, I thinks, is
someone Mr. Jarvey Hale's helpin', he being good and kind."

Here Geraldine gave unexpected information.

"He's a client of Mr. Hale's," she said indistinctly, with her mouth
full of pins, "and has come in for a lot of money. Mr. Hale's
introducing him into good society, to make a gent of him."

"Silk purses can't be made out of sows' ears," growled the cook, "an'
who told you all this Geraldine?"

"Miss Loach herself, at different times."

Susan thought it was strange that a lady should gossip to this extent
with her housemaid, but she did not take much interest in the
conversation, being occupied with her own sad thoughts. But the next
remark of Geraldine made her start. "Mr. Clancy's father was a
carpenter," said the girl.

"My father was a carpenter," remarked Susan, sadly.

"Ah