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.
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