I understood him to say that he might be late for dinner to-night as he had to go up to the Reservoir Cottage." Blanche sat up, all her senses suddenly on the alert.
"Mr.Varick came in some minutes ago," she said, "at least, I think he did." She was beginning to wonder if Lionel had really come in, or if she had only dreamt that he had done so.
"I don't think he came in, ma'am, for I've been in the dining-room, with the door open, for a long time.

I would have heard him if he had come through and gone upstairs." "You might see if he is in," she said quietly.
She took the letter off the salver, but did not break the seal till the old man had come back with the words: "No, ma'am, Mr.Varick is not in the house." He lingered on for a moment.

"I hope you will forgive me, ma'am, for mentioning that Mr.Varick told us we could all go off early to-morrow morning if we liked, instead of next Monday.

He paid us up after the visitors had gone away, and he also gave us the bonus he so kindly promised.

I never wish to serve a more generous gentleman.