"That they may, miss. There never was a truer saying than that trees have ears."
Ermengarde looked round her apprehensively. She had been many times forbidden to have any intercourse with Susan Collins, whose father, although he retained his post as gamekeeper, was regarded by Mr. Wilton as a somewhat shady character. Ermengarde fancied she liked Susy because of the little girl's remarkable beauty, but the real reason why her fancy was captivated was because Susy was an adroit flatterer.
When she spoke about trees having ears, Ermengarde glanced to right and left.
"Perhaps you had better go," she said. "I have got into one scrape. I don't want to get into a second."
"There's no one round yet, miss. The men are all at their dinners."
"Well, but some of the house-servants."
"There are none of them in sight, Miss Ermengarde. Do you think I'd get you into trouble on my account? Oh, dear, I wish I could come up and sit with you for a little."
"I wish you could, Susy."
"Well, miss, it's easy done, if you'll only say the word."
"What do you mean? This door is locked. Hudson has to bring me my meals, and no one in all the world can bribe Hudson to open the door."