Next day Mr.Packard introduced his new secretary.

Girls, he had the face of the Something I had seen, without the threatening look, which had so alarmed me." "Bad 'cess to him!" rang in vigorous denunciation from the cook.

"Why didn't ye send him 'mejitly about his business?
It's trouble he'll bring to us all and no mistake!" "That was what I feared," assented her now thoroughly composed mistress.
"So when Nixon said just now that Mr.Steele was dead, had fallen in a fit at Hudson Three Corners or something like that--I felt such wicked relief at finding that my experience had not meant danger to ourselves, but to him--wicked, because it was so selfish--that I forgot myself and cried out in the way you all heard.

Blame me if you will, but don't frighten yourselves by talking about it.

If Mr.Steele is indeed dead, we have enough to trouble us without that." And with a last glance at me, which ended in a wavering half-deprecatory smile, she stepped back and passed into her own room.
The mood in which I proceeded to my own quarters was as thoughtful as any I had ever experienced..