"Yes, yes; I know what you would say," he interrupted; "leave that to me."
He went limping out at the hall-door as he spoke. Hill disappeared in the direction of the kitchens, muttering angrily. . "That beast of a Lizzy! If she should get spreading this among the out-door men! I always said that girl brought no good to Chandos."
CHAPTER XX.
LIZZY DENE.
"For my heart was hot and restless:
And my life was full of care;
And the burden laid upon me
Seemed greater than I could bear."
Seated back in the shade, where the sunlight of the afternoon did not fall upon him, I saw him lift his hands at the last line, with a gesture half of despair, half of prayer, and then lay them on his pale face. Whatever his burden might be, it was a heavy one. It was he who had asked me to sing—Mr. Chandos; for the first time since I was in the house. Not much of a singer at the best, I never ventured on any but the most simple songs: and, of modern ones, "The Bridge," set to music by Miss Lindsay, is the sweetest.
"But now it has fallen from me;
It is buried in the sea;