“‘Why, what a whopper!’ exclaimed the man indignantly. ‘Nobody never came to see her once. Stop! yes, they did.’
“My heart seemed to stand still at his words.
“‘Yes, there was an old gentleman called one afternoon—grey-headed old gentleman—a parson, of course—so there was. It was while I was out with the carriage. Hann let him in, and fetched Miss Hendrick down, and she saw him in the dining-room. I remember Hann told me all about it. To be sure; and that little cat, Miss Celia, kicked up a row because Hann wouldn’t let her go into the dining-room while the gentleman was here, and she said she’d tell her mar. Miss Hendrick ain’t been home, then, sir?’
“‘No, my man, no.’
“‘Then I should go bang to the pleece station, sir. They’d find out.’
“I took the man’s advice, and went to the nearest station, where I saw a sergeant, and stated my case, while he made notes in a book.
“‘Lady young?’ he said.
“‘Twenty.’
“I saw the man tighten his lips.
“‘Pretty?’