There is no reason why a cook should be less trustworthy in such a matter than any other servant; and in Mr.Trevelyan's household there was a reason why she should be more so,--as she, and she alone, was what we generally call an old family domestic.

She had lived with her master's mother, and had known her master when he was a boy.

Looking about him, therefore, for some one in his house to whom he could speak,--feeling that he was bound to convey the order through some medium,--he called to him the ancient cook, and imparted to her so much of his trouble as was necessary to make the order intelligible.

This he did with various ill-worded assurances to Mrs.Prodgers that there really was nothing amiss.

But when Mrs.Trevelyan heard what had been done,--which she did from Mrs.Prodgers herself, Mrs.Prodgers having been desired by her master to make the communication,--she declared to her sister that everything was now over.