"The woman must have some noble qualities," he thought, "who can inspire such devotion as this." While Blanche was whispering to her uncle, a second private conference--of the purely domestic sort--was taking place between Lady Lundie and the butler, in the hall outside the library door.
"I am sorry to say, my lady, Hester Dethridge has broken out again." "What do you mean ?" "She was all right, my lady, when she went into the kitchen-garden, some time since.

She's taken strange again, now she has come back.

Wants the rest of the day to herself, your ladyship.

Says she's overworked, with all the company in the house--and, I must say, does look like a person troubled and worn out in body and mind." "Don't talk nonsense, Roberts! The woman is obstinate and idle and insolent.

She is now in the house, as you know, under a month's notice to leave.