"The cook's examinin' a goose," was the reply, "and the housemaid's talking wi' a chap as is just come from t' village."
He went on telling what the rest were doing; but Tom Temple immediately sent to the kitchen, and found that things were as was described.
"Where's Dr. Sharp?" said Mrs. Temple, adding that they could easily find out the doctor's present whereabouts the next day.
"He's comin' up here with his long-nosed pointer," was the reply, "and 'll be 'ere in a jiffy."
Five minutes after, Dr. Sharp came into the room. "I did not know I could come until half-an-hour ago," he said as he entered, and then stared as he saw how matters stood.
"Will you tell me," said Miss Forrest, "what my aunt is doing just now?"
She mentioned no name, and I do not know how the man sitting in the chair could know anything about her.
"She is jest gwine to bed," he said; "she's a bit ov a cold in 'er chest, and housekeeper is gwine to take some warmin' stuff to her."
"I'll know if this is true to-morrow," said Miss Forrest, and then relapsed into silence.
Meanwhile question after question was asked and answered, while Voltaire and Kaffar stood side by side, each with a terrible glitter in his eyes.