e.
"Well, well," said Hugo, in a soothing tone, as if he were making a
concession, "come back in a week, if you like, my good Mrs. Shairp. You
will find the house very uncomfortable--that is all. I am going to turn
painters and decorators loose in the upper rooms; the servants' quarters
are in a most dilapidated condition."

"If the penters are coming in, it's just the time that I sud be here,
sir," said Mrs. Shairp, firmly, but respectfully. And Hugo smiled an
assent.

As a matter of fact he had got all he wanted. He wanted Mrs. Shairp out
of the house for a week or ten days. For that space of time he wished to
have Netherglen to himself. She announced, after some hesitation, that
she would leave for Aberdeen on the twenty-eighth, and that she should
stay a week, or at the most, a day or two longer. "She's safe for a
fortnight," said Hugo to himself with a triumphant smile. He had other
preparations to make, and he set to work to make them steadily.

It was a remark made by Kitty herself at their last interview that had
suggested to his mind the whole mad scheme to which he was devoting his
mental powers. It all hinged upon the fact that Kitty was going to spend
a week with some friends in Edinburgh--friends whom Hugo knew only by
name. She went to them on the twenty-seventh. Mrs. Shairp left
Netherglen the twenty-eighth. Two hours after Mrs. Shairp had started on
her journey the two remaining servants were dismissed. The plumber, who
had been severely inspected and cautioned as to his behaviour that
morning by Mrs. Shairp, was sent about his business. One of the nurses
was also discharged. The only persons left in the house beside Mrs.
Luttrell, the solitary nurse, and Hugo himself, were two; a young
kitchen-maid, generally supposed to be somewhat deficient in intellect,
and a man named Stevens, whom Hugo had employed at various times in
various capacities, and characterised (with rather an odd smile) as "a
very useful fellow." The nurse who remained, protested vigorously
against this state of affairs, but was assured by Hugo in the politest
manner, that it would last only for a day or two, that he regretted it
as much as she did, that he would telegraph to Edinburgh for another
nurse immediately. What could the poor woman do? She was obliged to
submit to circumstances. She could no more withstand Hugo's smiling,
than she liked to refuse--in despite of all rules--the handsome gratuity
that he slid into her hand.