"That she did not," said Lizzie promptly. "When she came down to
breakfast, after the call, she looked like a ghost. I made her
the eggs she likes, too--but she wouldn't eat 'em."

"H'm," Miss Cornelia pondered. "I'm sorry if--well, Lizzie, we
mustn't meddle in Miss Dale's affairs."

"No, ma'am."

"But--did she say when she would be back?"

"Yes, Miss Neily. On the two o'clock train. Oh, and I was almost
forgettin'--she told me to tell you, particular--she said while
he was in the city she'd be after engagin' the gardener you
spoke of."

"The gardener? Oh, yes--I spoke to her about that the other night.
The place is beginning to look run down--so many flowers to attend
to. Well--that's very kind of Miss Dale."

"Yes, Miss Neily." Lizzie hesitated, obviously with some weighty
news on her mind which she wished to impart. Finally she took the
plunge. "I might have told Miss Dale she could have been lookin'
for a cook as well--and a housemaid--" she muttered at last,
"but they hadn't spoken to me then."

Miss Cornelia sat bolt upright in bed. "A cook--and a housemaid?
But we have a cook and a housemaid, Lizzie! You don't mean to tell
me--"