“What’s the matter, Molly? What has happened?” cried Kate, eagerly.
“May the blessed saints protect and guard us, Miss, but I seen him as plain as I see you.”
“Whom did you see?”
“Himself that’s gone—the master! Glory to him, and peace too, if it was God’s will,” said the woman, falteringly.
“How foolish this is, Molly. I scarcely expected this from you.”
“I don’t care. I’ll swear it on the book I saw him, and heard him too. ‘Would you be so kind———’ says he; and at that I let a screech out of me and ran in here.”
“This is too absurd,” said Kate, with some irritation in her voice. “Go and see what this man wants.”
“Not if you were to give me a hat full of goold, Miss Kate. May I never, if I’d go there again to be Queen of England.”
“I am not pleased with you, Molly,” said Kate, taking a candle in her hand and moving towards the door. The woman threw herself at her feet to prevent her, but with a haughty gesture she motioned her away, and passed out.
A man was standing in the doorway, who courteously removed his hat as she came forward, and said, “I’m sorry to have alarmed your servant, Miss Lutrell, but I had left my walking-stick here this morning, and came to get it.”