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He had heard of this old servant Steadman, who was supposed to enjoy
more of her ladyship's confidence than any one else in the household;
but he had never spoken to the man before that night.
'Yes, I came. It was my duty to come, knowing her ladyship's habits. I
am a light sleeper, and that scream woke me instantly. If her ladyship's
maid were wanted I should call her. I am a kind of watch-dog, you see,
sir.'
'You seem to be a very faithful dog.'
'I have been in her ladyship's service more than forty years. I have
reason to be faithful. I know her ladyship's habits better than any one
in the house. I know that she had a great deal of trouble in her early
life, and I believe the memory of it comes back upon her sometimes in
her dreams, and gets the better of her.'
'If it was memory that wrung that agonised shriek from her just now, her
recollections of the past must be very terrible.'
'Ah, sir, there is a skeleton in every house,' answered James Steadman,
gravely.
This was exactly what Maulevrier had said under the yew trees which
Wordsworth planted.


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