Neither she nor Vernon had paid any heed to the footsteps on the stone flags.
Now Olivia hastened to ring the bell sharply, and there was silence immediately.
“How is Mr. Brander to-day?” asked she of Mrs. Warmington when the housekeeper opened the door.
“He’s not much better, and not likely to be while that uncivilized creature from the Antipodes continues to make his abode here, and worry my master morning, noon, and night,” said the housekeeper, tartly.
“Mr. Mitchell? Where is he now?” asked Olivia, eagerly.
“He’s out in the churchyard there, poking about among the gravestones. I’ve been watching him from the window of the little room he sleeps in. I don’t know how he got hold of the key. I have a duplicate, for cleaning the church. I don’t know myself where my master keeps his.”
“I think I’ll go and speak to Mr. Mitchell, and come back when Mr. Brander is disengaged.”
“Disengaged! He’s disengaged now, as far as I know——”
“I think I heard Mrs. Brander’s voice as I came up the path.”
The housekeeper’s lips tightened, and she drew herself up in evident disapproval.