"We hardly see him now, sir!"
"And why not?"
"I told him he came too often, sir," said she, tosing her head.
"So he sulks and stays away?"
"Yes, sir."
"But you could bring him back?" I suggested, with a smile.
"Perhaps I could," said she.
"I know your powers, you see," said I, and she blushed with pleasure.
"It's not only that, sir, that keeps him away. He's very busy at the castle now."
"But there's no shooting on now."
"No, sir; but he's in charge of the house."
"Johann turned housemaid?"
The little girl was brimming over with gossip.
"Well, there are no others," said she. "There's not a woman there—not as a servant, I mean. They do say—but perhaps it's false, sir."
"Let's have it for what it's worth," said I.
"Indeed, I'm ashamed to tell you, sir."
"Oh, see! I'm looking at the ceiling."
