"_Uppermost_! It would never do for me to fail in the first big affair I've undertaken on my own account." XV HELEN SURPRISES SWEETWATER Lurk, lurk.
_King Lear_.
The returning servants drove up just as Sweetwater reached the lower floor.

He was at the side door when they came in, and a single glance convinced him that all had gone off decorously at the grave, and that nothing further had occurred during their absence to disturb them.
He followed them as they filed away into the kitchen, and, waiting till the men had gone about their work, turned his attention to the girls who stood about very much as if they did not know just what to do with themselves.
"Sit, ladies," said he, drawing up chairs quite as if he were doing the honours of the house.

Then with a sly, compassionate look into each woe-begone face, he artfully remarked: "You're all upset, you are, by what Mr.Cumberland said in such an unbecoming way at the funeral.

He'd like to strangle Mr.Ranelagh! Why couldn't he wait for the sheriff.

It looks as if that gentleman would have the job, all right." "Oh! don't!" wailed out one of the girls, the impressionable, warm-hearted Maggie.