He don't go out enough, and don't take enough interest in his stomach, if your ladyship will pardon my mentioning that part of him.

But you don't know, my lady, what it is to be a cook, and to see the dishes get cold, while he as should eat them goes on painting, not but what Master Noel don't paint like an angel, as I've said dozens of times." While Mrs.Tribb ran on in this manner her lively black eyes twinkled anxiously.

She knew that her master and Lady Agnes had been, as she said herself, "next door to engaged," and knew also that Lambert was fretting over the match which had been brought about for the glorification of the family.

The housekeeper, therefore, wondered why Lady Agnes had come, and asked herself whether it would not be wise to say that Master Noel--from old associations, she always called Lambert by this juvenile title--was not at home.

But she banished the thought as unworthy, the moment it entered her active brain, and with another curtsey in response to the visitor's greeting, she conducted her to the studio.