HY
NOT POSTPONE THE DISCOVERY UNTIL AFTER THE GREAT INTERRUPTION,
DEATH?

The problem of where the anomalous old lady was to be lodged might have
been solved by what is called an accommodating disposition, but not by
the disposition incidental to the _esprit de corps_ of a large staff of
domestic servants. To control them is notoriously the deuce's own
delight, and old Nick's relish for it must grow in proportion as they
become more and more corporate. As Mr. Norbury said--and we do not feel
that we can add to the force of his words--her young ladyship had not
took proper account of tempers. Two of these qualities, tendencies,
attributes, or vices--or indeed virtues, if you like--had developed, or
germinated, or accrued, or suppurated, as may be, in the respective
bosoms of Miss Lutwyche and Mrs. Masham. It was not a fortunate
circumstance that the dispositions of these two ladies, so far from
being accommodating, were murderous. That is, they would have been so
had it happened to be the Middle Ages, just then. But it wasn't. Tempers
had ceased to find expression in the stiletto and the poison-cup, and
had been curbed and stunted down to taking the other party up short,
showing a proper spirit, and so on.

"What was that you were saying to Norbury, papa dear?" Gwen asked this
question of her father in his own room, half an hour later, having
followed him thither for a farewell chat.

"Saying at lunch?" asked the Earl, partly to avoid distraction from the
mild Havana he was lighting, partly to consider his answer.

"Saying at lunch. Yes."

"Oh, Norbury! Well!--we were speaking of the same thing as you and your
mother, I believe. Only it was not so very clear what that was. You
didn't precisely ... formulate."

"Dear good papa! As if everything was an Act of Parliament! What did
Norbury say?"

"I only remember the upshot. Miss Lutwyche has a rather uncertain
temper, and Mrs. Masham has been accustomed to be consulted."

"Well--and then?"

"That's all I can recollect. It's a very extraordinary thing that it
should be so, but I have certainly somehow formed an image in my mind of
all my much too numerous retinue of servants taking sides with Masham
and Miss Lutwyche respectively, in connection with this old lady of
yours, who must be a great curiosity, and whom, by the way, I haven't
seen yet." He compared his watch with a clock on the chimney-piece,
whose slow pendulum said--so he alleged--"I, am, r