He eyed me with one of his blackest looks, and thrust his hands savagely into the pockets of his riding- coat.

`Why?' he said, `why, I should like to know?'

`It is not for me, Sir Percival, to express an opinion on what has taken place in this house. I desire to give no offence. I merely with to say that I do not feel it consistent with my duty to Lady Glyde and to myself to remain any longer in your service.'

`Is it consistent with your duty to me to stand there, casting suspicion on me to my face?' he broke out in his most violent manner. `I see what you're driving at. You have taken your own mean, underhand view of an innocent deception practised on Lady Glyde for her own good. It was essential to her health that she should have a. change of air immediately, and you know as well as I do she would never have gone away if she had been told Miss Halcombe was still left here. She has been deceived in her own interests -- and I don't care who knows it. Go, if you like -- there are plenty of housekeepers as good as you to be had for the asking. Go when you please -- but take care how you spread scandals about me and my affairs when you're out of my service. Tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, or it will be the worse for you! See Miss Halcombe for yourself -- see if she hasn't been as well taken care of in one part of the house as in the other. Remember the doctor's own orders that Lady Glyde was to have a change of air at the earliest possible opportunity. Bear all that well in mind, and then say anything against me and my proceedings if you dare!'

He poured out these words fiercely, all in a breath, walking backwards and forwards, and striking about him in the air with his whip.

Nothing that he said or did shook my opinion of the disgraceful series of falsehoods that he had told in my presence the day before, or of the cruel deception by which he had separated Lady Glyde from her sister, and had sent her uselessly to London, when she was half distracted with anxiety on Miss Halcombe's account. I naturally kept these thoughts to myself, and said nothing more to irritate him; but I was not the less resolved to persist in my purpose. A soft answer turneth away wrath, and I suppressed my own feelings accordingly when it was my turn to reply.

`While I am in your service, Sir Percival,' I said. `I hope I know my duty well enough not to inquire into your motives. When I am out of your service, I hope I know my own place well enough not to speak of matters which don't concern me --'

`When do you want to go?' he asked, interrupting me without ceremony. `Don't suppose I am anxious to keep you -- don't suppose I care about your leaving the house. I am perfectly fair and open in this matter, from first to last. When do you want to go?'

`I should wish to leave at your earliest convenience, Sir Percival-'

`My convenience has nothing to do with it. I shall be out of the house for good and all tomorrow morning, and I can settle your account tonight. If you want to study anybody's convenience, it had better be Miss Halcombe's. Mrs Rubelle's time is up today, and she has reasons for wishing to be in London tonight. If you go at once, Miss Halcombe won't have a soul left here to look after her.'

I hope it is unnecessary for me to say that I was quite incapable of deserting Miss Halcombe in such an emergency as had now befallen Lady Glyde and herself. After first distinctly ascertaining from Sir Percival that Mrs Rubelle was certain to leave at once if I took her place, and after also obtaining permission to arrange for Mr Dawson's resuming his attendance on his patient, I willingly consented to remain at Blackwater Park until Miss Halcombe no longer required my services. It was settled that I should give Sir Percival's solicitor a week's notice before I left, and that he was to undertake the necessary arrangements for appointing my successor. The matter was discussed in very few words. At its conclusion Sir Percival