ness had chosen that time to trouble him with it.

He was alone at last, and that was well; he was literally incapable of
enduring any farther self-restraint.

He rang the bell and gave strict orders to Dolf:

"Let no one else in to-day; I have letters to write; I will not see
another human being."

Dolf bowed himself out, and took his way to the lower regions, to
communicate to Clo and Victoria the commands his master had given. Those
three servants kept themselves aloof from the few others employed for
tasks which they considered too menial for the dignity of their
position, and these gaping youths and girls were strictly forbidden to
enter the apartment in which Clo had installed herself.

They were perfectly well aware, those three sable dignitaries, that
something was wrong in the house; servants always do know when anything
out of the common routine happens, and no pretence can blind their
watchful eyes.

"Marster says he won't see nobody more," said Dolf, as he entered the
room where Clo was rolling out her pie-crust, and Victoria busily
occupied in watching her.

"I wonder what's come over 'em all," said Vic. "Der's missus was a
walkin' up an' down like a crazy woman--"

"She didn't eat no breakfast," interrupted Dolf, "an' she never teched a
thing yesterday; now she's just done gone out a riden' all alone."

"An' Miss Elsie stretched out on de sofa, lookin' as if she'd cried her
pretty eyes out," went on Victoria. "Says she's got a headache--go
'long; tell dat to blind folks! It's my 'pinion der's more heart-ache
under dem looks dan anythin' else."

"Dat's jis' what I tink," assented Dolf.

Clorinda, from her station at the pastryboard, gave a sniff of doubtful
meaning, tossed her head till her frizzed locks shook, brought her
rolling-pin down on the board with great energy, and remained silent for
the express purpose of being questioned.

"What does yer tink 'bout it, Miss Clorindy?" asked Dolf.

Vic looked a little spiteful at hearing this appeal to Clo, but she was
so anxious for anybody's opinion, that for once she forgot to quarrel.

"I tinks what I tink," said Clo, with another toss of her head and an
extra flourish of the rolling-pin.

"Oh!" said Dolf, quite discomfited.

"Jis' so," said Clorinda.

"Any pusson could have guessed dat ar," put in Victoria, in an irritated
way; "yer needn't make sich a mysteriousness."

"I shall make a mysteriousness or shall luff it alone, jis' as I t