Efforts were made to induce her to answer questions relating to her past life in her husband's time.

She flatly declined to reply to them, one and all.

At certain intervals, strange impulses to get a holiday away from the house appeared to seize her.

If she was resisted, she passively declined to do her work.

If she was threatened with dismissal, she impenetrably bowed her head, as much as to say, "Give me the word, and I go." Over and over again, Lady Lundie had decided, naturally enough, on no longer keeping such a servant as this; but she had never yet carried the decision to execution.