Simon's charity, and Miss Randolph regarded the silent housekeeper as a spy. Each annoyed the other on every occasion in that skilful way known to the sex. But the war was carried on out of the old man's sight. That autocrat would speedily have put an end to it had they dared to skirmish in his presence. "Well! well! well!" snapped Sir Simon, who talked something like George III. in reiterating his words. "What's the matter? What?" "I have to complain of the housemaid Jane, sir." "Then don't. I pay you to keep the servants quiet, [pg 28] not to bother me with their goings-on. Well! well! well!" somewhat inconsistently, "what's Jane been doing?" [pg 28] "Receiving a follower—a soldier—one of those new young men who are going to the war." "An Imperial Yeoman?" put in Miss Randolph, looking up with interest. "Yes, Miss," responded Mrs. Gilroy, not looking round. "Cook tells me the young man comes nearly every evening, and makes love to Jane!" "What! what!" said the baronet, setting down his cup irritably. "Tell the hussy to go at once. Love?" This in a tone of scorn. "As though I've not had enough worry over that with Bernard. Tell her to go." Mrs. Gilroy shook her head. "We can't dismiss her, sir. She belongs to the house, and Mr. Jeffrey"— "I'll see him about it later. If he knew he certainly would not allow such things. A soldier—eh—what? Turn him out, Gilroy, turn him out! Won't have it, won't have him! There! you can go." "Will you be out to-day, sir?" "Yes, I go to see my lawyers. Do you think I come to town to waste time, Gilroy? Go away." But the housekeeper did not seem eager to go. She cast a look on Lucy eloquent of a desire to be alone with Sir Simon. That look Lucy took no notice of, although she understood it plainly. She suspected Mrs. Gilroy of hating Julius Beryl and of favoring Bernard. Consequently, all the influence of Mrs. Gilroy would be put forth to help the exiled heir. Lucy was fond of Bernard, but she was engaged to Julius, and, dragged both ways by liking and duty, she was forced to a great extent to remain neutral. But she did not intend to [pg 29] let Mrs. Gilroy have
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