, as works here."

"Well, come down, if you want to see him."

"I don't want to see him, I want to see Captain Bayley."

"I will tell the footman," the cook said, "but I don't think it likely
as you can see the Captain."

The footman soon made his appearance. Fortunately he was very young, and
had not yet acquired that haughtiness of manner which characterises his
class. Evan had before told him that his mother wanted to see Captain
Bayley, and had begged him to do his best, should she come, to
facilitate her doing so.

"Good morning," he said. "Your boy told me you would be likely enough
coming. So you want to see the Captain; he has just finished his
breakfast and gone into the study. Now, what shall I say you wants to
see him for? I can't show you in, you know, without asking him first."

The young footman was, indeed, curious to know what Mrs. Holl's object
could be in wishing to see his master. Evan had resisted all his
attempts to find out, simply saying that it was a private affair of his
mother's.

"Will you say to him," Mrs. Holl said, "that the mother of the boy as
works here under you is most anxious for to see him just for two or
three minutes; that it ain't nothing to do with the boy, but she wishes
particular to ask Captain Bayley a question--if he will be so good as
to see her--that no one else but hisself could answer."

"It's a rum sort of message," the young footman said, "but, anyhow, I
will give it; the Captain ain't as hot-tempered as he used to be, and he
can but say he won't see you."

Captain Bayley looked mystified when the footman delivered Mrs. Holl's
message to him; then he remembered that it was Frank who had introduced
her son to help in the house, and he wondered whether her errand could
have any connection with him.

"Well, show her up, James," he said; "but just tell her that my time is
precious, and that I don't want to listen to long rambling stories, so
whatever she has got to say, let her say it straight out."

"It's all right," James said, as, descending to the kitchen, he beckoned
Mrs. Holl to follow him; "but the Captain says you are to cut it short;
so if you wants an answer you had best put your question, whatever it
is, short and to the point, or he will snap you up in a minute, I can
tell you."

Mrs. Holl followed into the library. She was at no time a very
clear-headed thinker, and the difficulty of putting her question into a
few words pressed heavily upon her