Mirrable had been upper maid at Hartledon for years and years, and was privileged.
"Mr.Percival! Is it your ghost, sir ?" "I think it's myself, Mirrable." "My goodness! But, sir, how did you get here ?" "You may well ask.

I ought to have been here last night, but got out at some obscure junction to obtain a light for my cigar, and the train went on without me.

I sat on a bench for a few hours, and came on by the goods train this morning." Mirrable awoke from her astonishment, sent the two girls flying, one here, one there, to prepare rooms for Mr.Elster, and busied herself arranging the best breakfast she could extemporise.

Val Elster sat on a table whilst he talked to her.

In the old days, he and his brothers, little fellows, had used to carry their troubles to Mirrable; and he was just as much at home with her now as he would have been with his mother.
"Did Capper see you as you came by, sir?
Wouldn't she be struck!" "Nearly into stone," he laughed.
Mirrable disappeared for a minute or two, and came back with a silver coffee-pot in her hand.