But the young man had already caught sight of Jane. "Hold on, Buster," he said, turning to the child, "till I speak to the lady. Did you ring?" he added, addressing Jane, with a polite bow.
"Yes," she told him; "but no one answered. I wish to see Mrs. Belknap—on business," she added hastily.
"Ah, yes," he returned, apparently absorbed in his contemplation of Jane's undeniable beauty. "Mrs. Belknap is not at home; but—oh, don't go—er—she'll be at home soon. In fact, she told me she was expecting some one, and asked me to——"
"I think she expected me," said Jane coldly. "I am the new maid—that is, if I suit."
The young man stared incredulously. "I—I beg your pardon," he stammered, a wave of color passing over his boyish face. "I don't know what you'll think of me; but I—er—fancied you were a friend of Mrs. Belknap's. She was expected this afternoon, and I——"
"No; I am the maid," said Jane haughtily. "If Mrs. Belknap is coming home directly, I will wait here till she comes."
She sat down again on the green bench and fixed her hazel eyes on the remote distance.
The small boy threw down his whip and climbed up the steps. "I want a piece of bwead an' butter," he said confidentially, "an' I want a dwink of water, an' I want——"
"Buster!" called the young man warningly. "Come here!"
But the infant paid no heed. "I want a piece of bwead an' butter," he repeated in a louder voice, "an' I want a dwink of water, an' I want——"