ore at him for overdriving
the horses--an indication of ill-temper, on the part of his master,
which he described as being entirely without precedent in all his former
experience. Magdalen, in her department of service, had suffered in like
manner under the old man's irritable humor: he had been dissatisfied
with everything she did in the dining-room; and he had found fault with
all the dishes, one after another, from the mutton-broth to the toasted
cheese.

The next two days passed as usual. On the third day an event happened.
In appearance, it was nothing more important than a ring at the
drawing-room bell. In reality, it was the forerunner of approaching
catastrophe--the formidable herald of the end.

It was Magdalen's business to answer the bell. On reaching the
drawing-room door, she knocked as usual. There was no reply. After again
knocking, and again receiving no answer, she ventured into the room, and
was instantly met by a current of cold air flowing full on her face. The
heavy sliding door in the opposite wall was pushed back, and the Arctic
atmosphere of Freeze-your-Bones was pouring unhindered into the empty
room.

She waited near the door, doubtful what to do next; it was certainly
the drawing-room bell that had rung, and no other. She waited, looking
through the open doorway opposite, down the wilderness of the dismantled
Hall.

A little consideration satisfied her that it would be best to go
downstairs again, and wait there for a second summons fro m the bell.
On turning to leave the room, she happened to look back once more, and
exactly at that moment she saw the door open at the opposite extremity
of the Banqueting-Hall--the door leading into the first of the
apartments in the east wing. A tall man came out, wearing his great coat
and his hat, and rapidly approached the drawing-room. His gait betrayed
him, while he was still too far off for his features to be seen. Before
he was quite half-way across the Hall, Magdalen had recognized--the
admiral.

He looked, not irritated only, but surprised as well, at finding his
parlor-maid waiting for him in the drawing-room, and inquired, sharply
and suspiciously, what she wanted there? Magdalen replied that she had
come there to answer the bell. His face cleared a little when he heard
the explanation. "Yes, yes; to be sure," he said. "I did ring, and
then I forgot it." He pulled the sliding door back into its place as he
spoke. "Coals," he resumed, impatie