He only answered, 'By accident, my Lady'-- and not one more word could I get out of him, good or bad.

Moody engages the servants, as you know; but on every other occasion he has invariably consulted me before an engagement was settled.

I really don't feel at all sure about this person who has been so strangely introduced into the house--he may be a drunkard or a thief.

I wish you would speak to Moody yourself, Mr.Troy.Do you mind ringing the bell ?" Mr.Troy rose, as a matter of course, and rang the bell.
He was by this time, it is needless to say, convinced that Moody had not only gone back to consult Old Sharon on his own responsibility, but worse still, had taken the unwarrantable liberty of introducing him, as a spy, into the house.

To communicate this explanation to Lady Lydiard would, in her present humor, be simply to produce the dismissal of the steward from her service.