"Lasses," said he, hastily, "do me a kindness for old acquaintance. Here's the Squire. For Heaven's sake, don't let him know I am in the house, or there will be bloodshed between us. He is a hasty man, and I'm another. I'll tell ye more by and by."
The next moment Griffith's tread was heard approaching the very door, and Leicester darted into the housekeeper's room, and hid in a cupboard there.
Griffith opened the kitchen door, and stood upon the threshold.
The women courtesied to him, and were loud in welcome.
He returned their civilities briefly; and then his first word was, "Hath Thomas Leicester been here?"
You know how servants stick together against their master! The girls looked him in the face, like candid doves, and told him Leicester had not been that way for six months or more.
"Why, I have tracked him to within two miles," said Griffith, doubtfully.
"Then he is sure to come here," said Jane, adroitly. "He wouldn't ever think to go by us."
"The moment he enters the house, you let me know. He is a mischief-making loon."
He then asked for a horn of ale; and, as he finished it, Ryder came in, and he turned to her, and asked her after her mistress.