rosy as a college don; but if
I don't tell you what brought all the trouble about, how are you to
understand what followed? Old men have their own ways; and though I'm
not very old, I've got mine, and if I don't tell my story my way, I'm
done.

Well, it wasn't a week after Mr Bodkin & Co, the agent, had that glass
of wine in the pantry, that he came in all of a bustle, as he always
was, just as if he must get everything done before dark, and says he has
let the house, if Sir John approves.

Not so easily done as you'd think, for Sir John wasn't, he said, going
to have anybody for an opposite neighbour; but the people might come and
see him if they liked.

I remember it as well as if it was yesterday. Sir John was in a bad
temper with a touch of gout--bin 27--'25 port, being rather an acid
wine, but a great favourite of his. Miss Virginia had been crying. The
trouble had been about Mr Barclay going away. He'd finished his
schooling at college, and was now twenty-seven and a fine strong
handsome fellow, as wanted to be off and see the world; but Sir John
told him he couldn't spare him.

"No, Bar," he says in my presence, for I was bathing his foot--"if you
go away--I know you, you dog--you'll be falling in love with some
smooth-faced girl, and then there'll be trouble. You'll stop at home,
sir, and eat and drink like a gentleman, and court Virginia like a
gentleman; and when she's twenty-one, you'll marry her; and you can both
take care of me till I die, and then you can do as you like."

Then Mr Barclay, looking as much like his father as he could with his
face turned red, said what he ought not to have said, and refused to
marry Miss Virginia; and he flung out of the room; while Miss Virginia--
bless her for an angel!--must have known something of the cause of the
trouble--I'm afraid, do you know, it was from me, but I forget--and she
was in tears, when there was a knock and ring, and a lady's card was
sent in for Sir John: "Miss Adela Mimpriss."

It was about the house; and I had to show her in--a little, slight,
elegantly dressed lady of about three-and-twenty, with big dark eyes,
and a great deal of wavy hair.

Sir John sent for Mr Barclay and Miss Virginia, to see if they approved
of her; and it was settled that she and her three maiden sisters were to
have the opposite house; and when the bell rang for me to show her out,
Mr Barclay came and took the job out of my hands.

"I'm very glad," I heard hi