The Secret Passage

blue and white china adorned the other. On the outside wall copper pots and pans, glittering redly in the firelight, were ranged in a shining row. Opposite this wall, a door led into

rned a coarse white stocking intended for her own use. By the fire sat Thomas, fair-haired and stu

ok, when Susan returned, after admittin

faintly, sitting by the fire

he had a weak heart, and set down her wan appearance to the heat. "An' on that accounts you sits by the fire," said Mrs. Pill scathingly. "You're one o

usan, glad to see that the cooks thou

ancy one ain't. Why the missus should ho

up from her millinery; "such black eyes, that go through you lik

s. Pill, rubbing her nose with the stocking, "and Mr. Clancy, I thi

gave unexpect

mouth full of pins, "and has come in for a lot of money. Mr. Ha

sows' ears," growled the cook, "an

erself, at di

e did not take much interest in the conversation, being occupied with her own sad thoughts. But

carpenter," remar

alacrity, "now you're speak

was po

ower classes, looked up with interest. "Lor!" said Thomas, speak

ant me to go out to service, you know," added Susan, warming on finding sympathetic listeners. "I could have stopped at home with mother in Stepney, but I did not want to be idle, a

leave?" ask

wished for a change

he was a sharp girl and her feelings wer

out men," interrup

n. You've been in

ve," and Susan colo

cook that you are, no

to be; if she'd had a husband like mine, who drank every day in the week and lived on my earnings. He's dead now, an' I gave 'im a 'andsome tombstone with

his dull eyes fixed on the flushed face of S

an. "Father was working at

Down

shed with a house when he came home one day with his wages. He was taken ill and died. The doctor sa

poison himself?"

was gettin' good wages, and s

omas suddenly, "in

ght someone must have poisoned him, but she could not find out. As we had a lot of trouble then, it was thought father had killed

tra job?" asked

or three hours every afternoon by an arrangement with the foreman. Where he went, no one knew. He came straight from this extra job home and died

y gal?" asked Mrs. P

was ever known, and father was buried as a suicide. Then mother, having me

in't really Grant

ut after the suicide-if it was one-mother felt the disgrace so, that she made us all cal

mean by the

all Grants, though me and my four brothers are really Maxwells. But there," she said, looking round quiet

ife. It seemed she had buried the late Mr. Pill ten years before, and since that time had been with Miss Loach as cook. She had saved money and could leave service at o

time," said Thomas. "Missus is s

her good looks and many lovers, and the tyranny of mistresses. "I will s

h, and a good 'un she is. I entered her service when I was fifteen, and she

ain't that his lordship's ne

hat's him. He's fon

giggled Geraldine; "not but wh

al, sich as you'll never be, in spite of your fine name.

about him Miss Juli

ssus a week ago and gave her proper, and missus ain't no easy person to fi

aid Thomas. "Missus wo

er and sister so fond of one another as those two. I believe she'd put the 'air of '

y Mr. Mallow," said

ed. "Who is the old

ith Mr. Jarvey Hale and Mr. Clancy for the last three years. They play whist every evening and go away regular

sing also. "Miss Loach tol

ou, my love, I ain't jealous," she said. "My legs ain't as young as

She knocked and entered, to find Mr. Clancy, who looked rougher and more foolish than ever, standing by the table. Mis

ke to be contradicted. You've sent her away in a fine rage, and she's taken Hale with h

was a fine night, and Susan stopped for a moment at the door to drink in the fresh air. She heard the heavy footsteps of a policeman draw near and he passed the house, to disa

e at the back belon

mas, although not directly

y died and Lord Caranby left the house as it was and built a high wall round it. He then went travelling and has

id Lord Caranby l

ay. The lady who died was a friend of missus, and they were always together. I think missus and she were jealous of Lord Car

in the house or grounds," said Mrs. P

echoed Susa

y 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. M

Lord Car

d never comes near thi

adly. She'd have been a better Lady Caranby than Miss Saul"-here Thomas

"Perhaps missus has gone to walk in the g

out?" asked Thoma

ach was saying. Mr. Clancy had quarrelled with Mrs. Herne and she had gone away wi

istaken about the d

s is walking as she do do in the garding,

ended. Thomas smoked a pipe and the housemaid cleared away. Mrs. Pil

he cook, getting up hurriedly. "She'll be in a fine rage if she finds us up. Go to bed, Geraldine, and you,

eat rather than face the anger of Miss Loach. But remembering that the bell had rung, she opened the door, determined to explain. Miss Loach was seated in her usual chair, but leaning back with a ghastly face. The glare of the electric lamp fixed in the ceiling, shone full on her white countenance, and also on something else. The bosom of her purple gown was disarranged, and the lace which adorne

an pointing, "she

ed with horror. Thomas preserv