“Yes, she has the kindest of hearts,” said Nance; “but do you really like all this excitement, Adrian? Does it really give you pleasure?”
“Pleasure,” he answered, his brow darkening; “your kisses alone in all the wide world give me pleasure.”
“Take them then,” she answered.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE RATS IN THE QUEEN ANNE WING.
The new footman’s name was Jacob Short. On his arrival he had specially requested that he might be called by his Christian name. Nance saw no objection to this. The man, to outward appearance, was harmless in every way. Unlike his name he was somewhat tall of stature—this was his ostensible reason for making the request that he might be called Jacob.
“I am lanky and long and thin,” he said to the maids, “and when I am spoken to as Short, it’s like inviting you all to make fun of me.”
He quickly became popular in the servants’ hall and in the housekeeper’s room. He could tell good stories. He was extremely obliging and had a thorough knowledge of his duties.
There was one member of the household, however, who did not get on with the new footman—this was the lady’s maid, Hester Winsome. She was a rather pretty girl, and she took great pains to make herself attractive when she supped in the servants’ hall. On these occasions she had been accustomed to delicate attentions from the now absent George. Hester was a flirt, and she liked a good-looking young footman to pay her attention. She regretted George, but was abundantly willing to allow Jacob to take his place. But Jacob did not see this at first. He gave Hester one or two apparently indifferent glances, read her through and through, and then determined to have nothing whatever to do with her.
Hester bore this at first without complaint, but after struggling against her fate for quite three weeks, she became restive. As Jacob would not confide in her, she began to make him confidences.