Apparently Miss Loach
looked after her servants and made them comfortable. Thomas
proved to be amiable if somewhat stupid, and welcomed Susan to
tea affably but with sheepish looks. As the servants seemed
pleasant, the house comfortable, and as the salary was
excellent, Susan concluded that she had--as the saying is--
fallen on her feet.
The quartette had tea in the servants' hall, and there was
plenty of well-cooked if plain victuals. Miss Loach dined at
half-past six and Susan assumed her dress and cap. She laid
the table in a handsome dining-room, equally as garish in
color as the apartment below. The table appointments were
elegant, and Mrs. Pill served a nice little meal to which Miss
Loach did full justice. She wore the same purple dress, but
with the addition of more jewellery. Her sharp eyes followed
Susan about the room as she waited, and at the end of the
dinner she made her first observation. "You know your work I
see," she said. "I hope you will be happy here!"
"I think I will, ma'am," said Susan, with a faint sigh.
"You have had trouble?" asked Miss Loach quickly.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"You must tell me about it to-morrow," said the old lady
rising. "I like to gain the confidence of my servants. Now
bring my coffee to the room below. At eight, three people
will arrive--a lady and two gentlemen. You will show them
into the sitting-room and put out the card-table. Then you
can go to the kitchen and wait till I ring.
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