“Your respectful servant,
“Robert Crossley.”
CHAPTER XXXI.
A SUMMONS.
Nance received Crossley’s letter about noon on the following day. Lady Georgina was, of course, still with her. Nance and this lady were standing by the drawing-room window when Jacob brought in the letter. Before he left the room, he perceived the death like hue which spread over his young mistress’s face.
“When all is said and done, mine is an odious calling,” he muttered to himself. He went straight to the housekeeper’s room.
“Mrs. Ferguson,” he said, “even at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I must ask you to give me another holiday.”
“What, Jacob, another! Really, what servants are coming to in this day passes belief. The old business, is it?”
“Yes, ma’am, the old trouble,” answered Jacob.
“Well, well, I am sorry for you. You’ll be back to-morrow?”