"Does old Joad still sleep in his cottage?" asked Allen, with a careless glance at the tiny house.
"Of course! You know Mr. Edermont won't let anyone stay in the house at night but myself and Meg Gance."
"That is the cook?"
"Cook, housemaid, general servant, and all the rest of it," replied Dora gaily; "she and I between us manage the domestic affairs of the mansion. Mr. Edermont is too taken up with his library and Mr. Joad to pay attention to such details."
"He is always in the clouds," assented Allen, smiling. "By the way, who is Mr. Joad?"
Dora laughed and shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm sure I can't tell you that," she replied carelessly; "he is an old college friend of my guardian's, who gives him house-room."
"But not a bed?"
"No. Joad has to turn out at nine o'clock every night and return to his cottage. I believe he passes most of his evenings in the company of Mr. Pride."
"Pride, Pride?" said Allen thoughtfully--"oh, that is the chubby little man who is so like your guardian."