en warning, and the
new catalogue--the darling of his heart--would be thrown on his
hands. It would not be surprising to find him rampant. Elizabeth
entered almost on tip-toe, prepared to be all that was meek and
conciliating, so far as was compatible with her month's notice.

* * * * *

A tall figure rose from the Squire's table and made her a formal
bow.

'Good-morning, Miss Bremerton. I expected your assistance yesterday
afternoon, but you had, I understand, made an engagement?'

'I asked you--a few days ago,' said Elizabeth, mildly confronting
him. 'I am sorry if it inconvenienced you.'

'Oh, all right--all right,' said the Squire hastily. 'I had
forgotten all about it. Well, anyway, we have lost a great deal of
time.' His voice conveyed reproach. His greenish eyes were fierily
bent upon her.

Elizabeth sat down at her table without reply, and chose a pen. The
morning's work generally consisted of descriptions of vases and
bronzes in the Mannering collection, dictated by the Squire, and
illustrated often by a number of references to classical writers,
given both in Greek and English. The labour of looking out and
verifying the references was considerable, and the Squire's testy
temper was never more testy than when it was quarrelling with the
difficulties of translation.

'Kindly take down,' he said peremptorily.

Elizabeth began:

'"No. 190. Greek vase, from a tomb excavated at Mitylene in 1902.
Fine work of the fifth century B.C. Subject: Penelope's Web.
Penelope is seated at the loom. Beside her are the figures of a
young man and two females--probably Telemachus and two hand-maidens.
The three male figures in the background may represent the suitors.
Size, 23 inches high; diameter, 11 inches. Perfect, except for a
restoration in one of the handles."

'Have you got that?'

'Yes.'

'Go on please. "This vase is of course an illustration of the
well-known passage in the _Odyssey_, Book 21. 103. I take Mr. Samuel
Butler's translation, which is lively and modern and much to be
preferred to the heavy archaisms of the other fellows."'

Elizabeth gave a slight cough. The Squire looked at her sharply.

'Oh, you think that's not dignified? Well, have it as you like.'

Elizabeth altered the phrase to 'other translators.' The Squire
resumed. '"Antinous, one of the suitors, is speaking: 'We could see
her working on her great web all day long, but at night she would
unpick th