"I wonder," said Sir Charles, almost below his breath, "what infernal chance has sent you here!"
"If 'infernal' were a word to be used by a lady--I doubt whether it should be used in a lady's presence; but that is a matter of taste--I should reiterate your sentiment; because, if you remark, you are the interloper and intruder. I am going on perfectly quietly, earning my living, giving every satisfaction to my employers,--living, in fact, like the virtuous peasant on the stage or in the penny romances,--when chance brings you into my line of life, and you at once grumble at me for being there."
"You can understand fast enough, I suppose," said Sir Charles, sulkily, "that my associations with my former life are not such as I take great pleasure in recalling."
"If a lady might say such a word, I should say, upon my soul I can't understand any such thing. Though I go quietly enough in harness, and take my share of the collar-work too, they little think how I long sometimes to kick over the traces, to substitute Alfred de Musset for Fénelon in my pupil's reading, or to let my fingers and voice stray off from Adeste Fideles into Eh, ioup, ioup, ioup, tralala, lala! How it would astonish them! wouldn't it?--the files, I mean; not Mrs. Hammond, who knows everything, and I've no doubt would follow on with Mon père est à Paris as naturally as possible."
Sir Charles was by no means soothed by this rattle, but frowningly asked, "How long do you mean to remain here?"
"How long? Well, my movements are of course controlled by Mrs. Hammond. It is betraying no confidence to say that I know she is expecting an invitation to Redmoor (you see I know the name of your place); and as this house is not particularly comfortable, and your hospitality is boundless, I conclude, when once we get there, we shall not leave much before we return to town for the season."
"We!" exclaimed Sir Charles; "why, do you mean to say that you are coming to stay at my house?"
"Of course I am. Mrs. Hammond told me that she gave you distinctly to understand that she must bring Miss Gillespie with her when she came to stop at Redmoor."
"True; but then--"
"Then you did not know Miss Gillespie. Well, you'll find she's not a bad fellow, after all."