ce during the week the earl had been accompanied by persons
whom he had brought from the House or some meeting, and expected to have
them provided for.

The cook never knew how many guests to expect; the coachman never knew
when the horses and carriages would be wanted; the footmen were called
upon to leave their proper duties and wait upon a mob of "advanced
women" collected for a meeting--and a scramble feed--in the dining room,
when perhaps a proper lunch should have been in preparation for an
ordinary party.

There was no rest, no cessation of the stir and turmoil in the great
house, and amid it all Nell moved like a kind of good fairy, contriving
to just keep the whole thing from smashing up in chaotic confusion.

Presently everybody began to rely upon her, and came to her for
assistance; and the earl himself was uneasy and dissatisfied if she were
not at the head of the breakfast table, at which he and she very often
made a duet. He seemed to see Lady Wolfer very seldom, and gradually
got into the habit of communicating with her through Nell. It would be:

"May I trouble you so far, Miss Lorton, as to ask Lady Wolfer if she
intends going to the Wrexhold reception to-night?" Or: "Lady Wolfer
wishes for a check for these bills. May I ask you to give it to her?
Thank you very much. I am afraid I am giving you a great deal of
trouble."

Sometimes Nell would say: "Lady Wolfer is in her room. Shall I tell her
you are here?" and he would make haste to reply:

"Oh, no; not at all necessary. She may be very much engaged. Besides, I
am just going out."

Grave and reserved, not to say grim, though he was, Nell got to like
him. His pomposity was on the surface, and his stiffness and hauteur
were but the mannerisms with which some men are cursed. At the end of
the week he startled her by alluding to the salary which he had offered
her in his letter.

"I am afraid you thought it a very small sum, Miss Lorton," he said. "I
myself considered it inadequate; but I asked a friend what he paid in a
similar case, and I was, quite wrongly, I see, guided by him."

"It is quite enough," said Nell, blushing. "I think it would have been
fairer if you had not paid me anything--at any rate, to start with."

"We will, if you please, increase it to one hundred pounds," he said,
ignoring her protest. "I beg you will not refuse; in fact, I shall
regard your acceptance as a favor."

He rose to leave the room before Nell could reply,