ry servant. I don't expect him to ask permission to go out. But I
do expect him to leave word downstairs of the time at which he is likely
to return. When he did come back, after an absence of some hours, I
naturally asked for an explanation. Would you believe it? he simply
informed me that he had been away on business of his own; expressed
no regret, and offered no explanation--in short, spoke as if he was an
independent gentleman. You may not think it, but I kept my temper. I
merely remarked that I hoped it would not happen again. He made me a
bow, and he said, 'My business is not completed yet, my Lady. I cannot
guarantee that it may not call me away again at a moment's notice.'
What do you think of that? Nine people out of ten would have given
him warning to leave their service. I begin to think I am a wonderful
woman--I only pointed to the door. One does hear sometimes of men's
brains softening in the most unexpected manner. I have my suspicions of
Moody's brains, I can tell you."

Mr. Troy's suspicions took a different direction: they pointed along the
line of streets which led to Old Sharon's lodgings. Discreetly silent as
to the turn which his thoughts had taken, he merely expressed himself as
feeling too much surprised to offer any opinion at all.

"Wait a little," said Lady Lydiard, "I haven't done surprising you yet.
You have been a boy here in a page's livery, I think? Well, he is a good
boy; and he has gone home for a week's holiday with his friends. The
proper person to supply his place with the boots and shoes and other
small employments, is of course the youngest footman, a lad only a
few years older than himself. What do you think Moody does? Engages a
stranger, with the house full of idle men-servants already, to fill the
page's place. At intervals this morning I heard them wonderfully merry
in the servants hall--_so_ merry that the noise and laughter found its
way upstairs to the breakfast-room. I like my servants to be in good
spirits; but it certainly did strike me that they were getting beyond
reasonable limits. I questioned my maid, and was informed that the noise
was all due to the jokes of the strangest old man that ever was seen.
In other words, to the person whom my steward had taken it on himself
to engage in the page's absence. I spoke to Moody on the subject. He
answered in an odd, confused way, that he had exercised his discretion
to the best of his judgment and that (if I wished it), he w