'
'No, I tell you, Steadman,' his mistress answered, with a touch of
impatience; 'Lady Mary and her husband will make this house their home
so long as I am here. It will not be long.'
'God grant it may be very long before you cease to be mistress here,'
answered Steadman, with real feeling; and then in a lower tone he went
on: 'Pardon me, my lady, for the suggestion, but do you think it wise to
have Mr. Hammond here as a resident?'
'Why should it not be wise? Mr. Hammond is a gentleman.'
'True, my lady; but any accident, such as that which brought Lady Mary
into the old garden----'
'No such accident need occur--it must not occur, Steadman,' exclaimed
Lady Maulevrier, with kindling eyes. She who had so long ruled supreme
was not inclined to have any desire of hers questioned. 'There must have
been gross carelessness that day--carelessness on your part, or that
stable door would never have been left open. The key ought to have been
in your possession It ought not to have been in the power of the
stableman to open that door.
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