"IF you please, Sir Jasper, Miss Tillotson's here, and is asking to see you," said Mrs. Mallock, in a nervous, apologetic tone.
It was twelve o'clock on the morning subsequent to the fire, and Sir Jasper, seated in his favourite easy chair in the library, had composed himself sufficiently to glance at the news in the morning's paper. He had been naturally much upset by the excitement of the night; and want of rest had made him irritable. For several hours he had not known whether his home would be entirely burnt down or not, and he had spent a time of much anxiety, for every stone in the walls of the Moat House was dear to him.
In his anger he had spoken very harshly to Celia, and had desired Miss Pring to take her away out of his sight. He lifted his eyes from the newspaper now with a frown as Mrs. Mallock addressed him from the doorway, and exclaimed, testily: "Miss Tillotson? What does she want?"
"I don't know, Sir Jasper. I told her you were resting, and did not wish to be disturbed; but she declared she must see you, and—good gracious, here she is!"
The housekeeper withdrew precipitately as Lulu entered the room, evidently in a high state of excitement.
"I must speak to you, indeed I must!" the girl cried, both look and tone full of distress. "What I want to say is important!"
Sir Jasper rose, laid aside his paper, shook hands with his unexpected visitor, and gravely offered her a chair. He saw her boots were covered with dust, and that her appearance altogether was decidedly dishevelled.
"I walked," Lulu explained, as she noticed his scrutiny; "it was so hot and dusty, but I felt I must come when I heard what had happened. Father is very angry with me, but he doesn't know where I am. I came of my own accord. Now, please tell me, is it really true that Celia set the house on fire?"
Sir Jasper reseated himself in his easy chair, as he answered:
"Well, yes, she did—not purposely, of course."