ck
father. I could not but be moved by the loving touches as she fixed
his pillows and brushed the hair from his forehead.

I was wearied out myself with my long spell of watching; and now that
she was on guard I started off to bed, blinking my tired eyes in the
full light and feeling the weariness of a sleepless night on me all at
once.

I had a good sleep, and after lunch I was about to start out to walk to
Jermyn Street, when I noticed an importunate man at the hall door. The
servant in charge was the one called Morris, formerly the "odd man,"
but since the exodus of the servants promoted to be butler pro tem.
The stranger was speaking rather loudly, so that there was no
difficulty in understanding his grievance. The servant man was
respectful in both words and demeanour; but he stood squarely in front
of the great double door, so that the other could not enter. The first
words which I heard from the visitor sufficiently explained the
situation:

"That's all very well, but I tell you I must see Mr. Trelawny! What is
the use of your saying I can't, when I tell you I must. You put me
off, and off, and off! I came here at nine; you said then that he was
not up, and that as he was not well he could not be disturbed. I came
at twelve; and you told me again he was not up. I asked then to see
any of his household; you told me that Miss Trelawny was not up. Now I
come again at three, and you tell me he is still in bed, and is not
awake yet. Where is Miss Trelawny? 'She is occupied and must not be
disturbed!' Well, she must be disturbed! Or some one must. I am here
about Mr. Trelawny's special business; and I have come from a place
where servants always begin by saying No. 'No' isn't good enough for
me this time! I've had three years of it, waiting outside doors and
tents when it took longer to get in than it did into the tombs; and
then you would think, too, the men inside were as dead as the mummies.
I've had about enough of it, I tell you. And when I come home, and
find the door of the man I've been working for barred, in just the same
way and with the same old answers, it stirs me up the wrong way. Did
Mr. Trelawny leave orders that he would not see me when I should come?"

He paused and excitedly mopped his forehead. The servant answered very
respectfully:

"I am very sorry, sir, if in doing my duty I have given any offence.
But I have my orders, and must obey them. If you would like to leave