"Did she tell you what the dream was about?"
"No. Except that she thought she saw my uncle in it."
"Ah! It strikes me he is on her mind too much. I wish, Ella, you would put a few questions to her about the Squire, and let me be present."
"Not questions to alarm her, I suppose?"
"My dear, if she knows of nothing wrong in connection with that time, how could they alarm her?"
"True. I will ask her to-morrow morning. She shall come in to take my orders instead of my going to her."
The next morning, Dorothy, full of her cares for dinner, for she was still the housekeeper, and bustling enough in the early part of the day, was summoned to Miss Winter's presence. Mr. Conroy had come to the Hall betimes that day, and sat at the back of the room reading a newspaper.
Ella quietly gave her orders; and Dorothy received them intelligently as usual. In her own department as housekeeper, the woman was capable yet.
"Is that all, Miss Ella?" she asked.
"All for the present. I think of having a few friends to dinner soon; Mr. Philip Cleeve and his wife, and the Vicar; and Lady Cleeve, if she is able to come. Just half-a-dozen or so, besides ourselves--but I will talk to you of that to-morrow."