"No one could be a more faithful servant than Aaron was to my uncle. They were together for nearly fifty years. I could not think of parting from him, Aunt Gertrude," added Ella, with a heightened colour.
"As you please, of course, child. He is a most cross-grained old man; everybody must admit that. He lords it over the other servants as if he were master of the house. They cannot like it: and it is hardly the thing, I think, for you to oblige them to put up with it. It might have been all very right in your uncle's time; but that is over."
"It is Aaron's manner only that is in fault, Aunt Gertrude; we are all used to that, and nobody minds it. He bears a heart of gold under that rugged exterior."
Mrs. Carlyon shrugged her shoulders. Ella smiled.
"You don't seem to believe in the gold, then!"
"No, I do not, Ella. That he was a truly faithful servant to your uncle I admit--all praise to him for it!--but whether he is as faithful to others, I cannot say. There is a curious secretiveness of manner about him now that I don't like, and don't pretend to account for. However, we will leave all that and go to another phase of the question. Has it never struck you, my dear, that the old couple may wish to retire from service, and would think it only proper and kind on your part to suggest it to them? They may be hoping and waiting for you to make such a proposal--of course, accompanied by a promise of your countenance for their remaining days."
Ella paused, revolving the suggestion.
"You have put the case in a new light, certainly, aunt," she said, "one that I confess I never glanced at. I do not believe Aaron has any wish to leave me, any thought of it; or Dorothy either: all the same, it is a point that must be inquired into."
Ella lost no time. That same day, upon Aaron's coming into the room where she sat alone, she bade him wait--she had something to say to him. Very considerately she spoke: nevertheless, it seemed to strike the old man dumb. His hands shook. His lips quavered.
"You don't want to get rid of me sure-ly, Miss Ella!" he cried when she had finished. "It can't be. I know I'm old; and old folks be not counted of much use, nowadays; but--but the Squire would never have driven me away from the old home. I'll go to the workhouse to-morrow, if you wish it, ma'am--and no place else will I go to if I leave here--and I'll never come out of it again. No, never, till they bring me out feet foremost."