He now looked up from his books with a pardonable curiosity to say: 

“Well, sister Susan, letters do not trouble thee oft.  And what may be the news in this one? and from whom comes it?”

“From Prudence Dyson.”

“Prudence at the Cross Way House?  And what says she? it is long since we had news of her.”

“So long that I had almost forgot where she was:  and I marvel she should trouble us thus.  Thy daughters are not serving wenches, Martin.  What can Prudence be thinking of?”

Martin smiled slightly.  It seemed to him that beneath his sister’s iron rule his daughters did little but toil after the fashion of serving wenches from morning to night.  As for Susan herself, she worked harder than any servant she had ever had beneath her sway.

“What says the letter?” he asked briefly; “what is the matter that angers thee?”

“I am not angry,” answered Susan sharply.  “I trust I know my duty better as a Christian than to be angered over trifles.  I am but surprised at such a request.  Prudence Dyson asks if I can spare one of my nieces and thy daughters to dwell for a while at Cross Way House, to help her with her duties there.”

Martin Holt did not appear to see anything very unreasonable or extraordinary in that request.

“What has caused her to wish it?” he asked quietly.  “Is she in any way ill or disabled?”

“It is not that; it is that there be two young ladies of gentle birth dwelling now beneath Lady Humbert’s care.  Prudence desires to give them all due tendance and service; but as thou knowest, Martin, the household purse there is not deep, and Prudence strives might and main to do all she can to save her kind mistress from needless cost.  She is striving now to attend herself upon all four ladies; and she says that the young maidens are very kindly and gentle and helpful.  But she likes not to see them wait upon themselves, and she knows that my Lady Humbert would wish them to have all needful service.  Wherefore she asks if thou couldst spare a daughter to go thither for a while to help her by waiting on the young damsels.  And I—­”

“Well, and wherefore not?” said Martin, stroking his chin thoughtfully.  “Prudence is a good woman, and my dead wife loved her best of all her family.  I know that Lady Humbert is a woman into whose house any father might trust his daughter without a fear.  As for the question of serving wenches, I trow the wench who goes will have an easier time than the sisters who abide at home.  Susan, I think it only right to help Prudence in this matter; I can see no reason against so doing.”

Susan seldom opposed the master of the house, but she looked a little sour and displeased.

“We shall have Christmas upon us right soon; we can ill spare any hands then,” she said.

“O—­ho!  So it is the thought of thine own pies and stuffed meats that weighs with thee!” said Martin with a laugh.  “Then I will tell thee what I will do.  I will send Cherry, whom thou art ever chiding for being useless to thee.  She shall go to wait upon the two young madams and help good Prudence at the Cross Way House, and thou shalt keep thy two useful nieces at home with thee.”