“Lady Glyde’s maid, sir.”
“What does Lady Glyde’s maid want with me?”
“A letter, sir——”
“Take it.”
“She refuses to give it to anybody but you, sir.”
“Who sends the letter?”
“Miss Halcombe, sir.”
The moment I heard Miss Halcombe’s name I gave up. It is a habit of mine always to give up to Miss Halcombe. I find, by experience, that it saves noise. I gave up on this occasion. Dear Marian!
“Let Lady Glyde’s maid come in, Louis. Stop! Do her shoes creak?”
I was obliged to ask the question. Creaking shoes invariably upset me for the day. I was resigned to see the Young Person, but I was not resigned to let the Young Person’s shoes upset me. There is a limit even to my endurance.