And I partly did guess there must be something of the sort in it; for I have a respect for Miss King, and I know well that she's not the sort that would do the like of that without the gentleman would be a near friend of her own.

But the way I'd make sure I went and asked the young lady within in the kitchen." "Do you mean the cook ?" "I do," said Callaghan.

"It might have been an hour after or maybe more when I was taking in a dish of peas for the dinner.

'Miss Hodge,' says I, speaking respectful--for the girls that does be in it thinks a lot of themselves on account of their coming over here all the way from London--'Miss Hodge,' says I, 'that's a mighty fine gentleman that's come to see the mistress to-day.' 'The devil a much credit it is to you to find that out,' says she, 'for--'" "She didn't," said Meldon.

"Nobody of the name of Hodge who came from London would or could say 'the devil a much credit' under any circumstances." "It's what she meant," said Callaghan, "and what's more, she told me about his being a high-up gentleman, and a judge, no less.