"Not a single 'ole as you could get a cat through. Round and
round the place that fifteen-feet wall is built, and the park,
as they calls it, is running as wild as a cow. Not a soul has
set foot in that place for the last fifteen years. But I
expect when Mr. Mallow comes in for the title he'll pull it
down and build 'ouses. I'm sure he ought to: it's a shame
seeing land wasted like that."
"Where is Lord Caranby now?"
"He lives in London and never comes near this place," said
Thomas.
"Is Miss Loach friendly with him now?"
"No, she ain't. He treated her badly. She'd have been a
better Lady Caranby than Miss Saul"--here Thomas started and
raised a finger. "Eh! wasn't that the front door closing?"
All listened, but no sound could be heard. "Perhaps missus
has gone to walk in the garding," said cook, "she do that at
times."
"Did you show 'ern out?" asked Thomas, looking at Susan.
"Only Mr. Clancy," she answered, "the others had gone before.
I heard what Miss Loach was saying. Mr. Clancy had quarrelled
with Mrs. Herne and she had gone away with Mr. Hale. Then
Miss Loach gave it to him hot and sent him away. She's all
alone."
"I must have been mistaken about the door then," said he.
"Not at all," chimed in Mrs. Pill. "Missus is walking as she
do do in the garding, singing and adornin' self with flowers."
After this poetic flight of fancy on the part of the cook, the
supper ended. Thomas smoked a pipe and the housemaid cleared
away.
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